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fTbe  prisoner  of  'love 

INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  ON  OUR 
DUTIES  TOWARDS  JESUS  IN  THE  MOST 
HOLY  SACRAMENT  OF  THE  ALTAR 

PRAYERS  AND  DEVOTIONS  FOR  VARIOUS  OCCA- 
SIONS, IN  PARTICULAR  FOR  VISITS  TO 
THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  AND 
TI*E  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


BY 

IRew  jf.  £.  Xasance 

AUTHOR  OF  “ MY  PRAYER-BOOK,”  ETC. 


New  York,  Cincinnati,  Chicago 

e n 3 i g e r Brothers 

Printers  to  the  Holy  Apostolic  See 
1918 


IRlbll  ©bstat, 


ARTHUR  J.  SCANLAN,  S.T.D., 

Librorutn  Censor. 


Imprimatur. 

*JOHN  CARDINAL  FARLEY, 

A rchbishop  of  New  York. 


New  York,  August  ao,  1918. 


Copyright,  1918,  by  Benziger  Brothers 


foreword 


HIS  book,  “ The  Prisoner  of  Love,”  is  made  up 
of  two  parts.  The  bulk  of  Part  One  consists 
of  Instructions  and  Reflections  on  our  Duties 
toward  Jesus  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the 
Altar,  translated  from  a French  work  by  PAbbe  S. 
Febvre,  the  title  of  which  is  “ Nos  Devoirs  envers 
N.  S.  Jesus-Christ  dans  La  Ste.  Eucharistie.” 
The  authorized  translation,  made  by  A.  M. 
Clarke,  was  edited  by  the  present  writer.  In 
his  Preface  to  the  edition  of  the  above-mentioned 
work,  from  which  the  present  translation  was 
made,  the  pious  author  says:  “ This  little  book, 
treating  as  it  does  of  the  principal  duties  of  Chris- 
tians toward  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Most  Holy 
Sacrament,  has  been  kindly  received,  not  only 
by  our  brethren  in  the  priesthood,  but  also  by 
devout  members  of  the  laity,  and  its  success 
has  exceeded  our  hopes.  We  must  disclaim  all 


5 


6 


FOREWORD 


intentions  of  writing  a scientific  treatise,  but 
merely  a practical  work  for  the  instruction  of 
the  faithful,  who  are  unfortunately  too  often 
ignorant  of  the  duties  they  owe  to  Jesus  Christ 
in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament. 

“ In  order  that  he  may  understand  the  purport 
of  this  book,  we  request  the  reader  to  glance 
through  the  table  of  contents,  and  we  venture 
to  recall  to  his  memory  the  following  words  of 
St.  Augustine : ‘ Do  not,  O reader,  condemn 

a book  until  thou  hast  finished  the  perusal 
thereof;  for  it  may  be  that  after  having  done 
this,  thy  blame  will  be  less  severe.’  And  now 
we  again  kneel  down  before  the  tabernacle  on 
the  selfsame  spot  where  we  planned  this  work 
which  we  afterward  committed  to  paper,  and  we 
beseech  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  accept  this 
humble  tribute  of  respect.” 

Part  Two  of  this  book  is  a compilation  made 
by  the  present  writer.  It  contains  both  general 
and  special  devotions.  While  it  has  been  de- 
signed to  serve  the  ordinary  purposes  of  a prayer- 
book,  its  special  object  is  to  furnish  suitable 
prayers  and  devotions  for  Visits  to  the  Blessed 


FOREWORD 


7 


Sacrament,  the  Holy  Hour,  and  the  Hour  of 
Adoration. 

May  this  little  work  serve  to  foster  both 
private  and  public  devotion  to  Jesus  in  the  Most 
Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar;  may  it  be  instru- 
mental in  making  the  Prisoner  of  Love  better 
known  and  more  fervently  loved.  Let  all  who 
are  truly  devoted  to  the  Eucharistic  Heart  of 
Jesus  recite  daily  the  following  indulgenced 
ejaculation,  and  do  what  they  can  toward  the 
realization  of  the  pious  wish  expressed  therein: 

“ May  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  be  praised,  adored,  and  loved  with 
grateful  affection,  at  every  moment,  in  all  the 
tabernacles  of  the  world,  even  to  the  end  of 
time.  Amen.” 


F.  X.  Lasance. 


. 

*•  ■* 


> 


Contents 


FOREWORD 


PAGE 


s 


part  l 

INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  ON  OUR  DU- 
TIES TOWARD  JESUS  IN  THE  MOST  HOLY 
SACRAMENT  OF  THE  ALTAR 

Chapter  l 

Jesus  Christ  Is  not  Known  nor  Is  He  Loved  in  the  Most 
Adorable  Sacrament  of  the  Altar  . . . .27 

Chapter  2 

Our  First  Duty  toward  Our  Lord  in  the  Holy  Eucha- 
rist Is  to  Believe  in  His  Real  Presence  ...  29 

Practical  Faith  in  the  Real  Presence  ....  33 

Visits  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament  . . . .33 

Chapter  3 

In  What  State  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  Remains  in  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament 36 

Chapter  4 

The  Love  of  Jesus  Christ  for  Souls  Who  Have  a Lively 
Faith  in  His  Real  Presence.  Means  Whereby  to 
Increase  This  Faith 40 

A Royal  Model 45 

9 


10 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  5 

PAGE 

The  Second  of  the  Duties  We  Owe  to  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  Eucharist  Is  to  Adore  Him.  The  Obligation  to 
Genuflect 46 

Chapter  6 

The  Act  of  Adoration  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament  . 49 

Chapter  7 

The  Reasons  Why  Jesus  Christ  Instituted  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Eucharist 53 

Chapter  8 

Jesus  Christ  Present  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  Is  Very 
Little  Visited 56 

Chapter  9 

The  Poverty  of  the  Dweller  in  the  Tabernacle  . . 59 

Chapter  10 

The  Prisoner  of  Love 62 

Chapter  11 

The  Indifference,  Ingratitude,  Contempt,  and  Treachery 
with  Which  Jesus  Meets  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment   .65 

Chapter  12 

Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  Is  the  Advocate 
of  Those  Who  Visit  Him 68 

Chapter  13 

Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  Is  a Charitable 
Physician  for  the  Souls  Who  Visit  Him  . 


7i 


CONTENTS 


11 


Chapter  14 

PAGE 

Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  Is  the  Best  of 


Comforters 75 

Chapter  15 

The  Right  Manner  in  Which  to  Make  a Visit  to  the  Most 
Holy  Sacrament 79 


Chapter  16 

The  Love  of  Mary  for  Those  Who  Visit  the  Blessed 
Sacrament 82 

Chapter  17 

Jesus  Christ  Instituted  the  Sacrament  of  the  Eucharist 
in  Order  That  He  Might  Be  the  Food  of  Our  Souls  . 86 

Chapter  18 

Holy  Communion 89 

Chapter  19 

How  Often  Ought  We  to  Communicate?  ...  92 

Extract  from  the  Decree  concerning  Daily  Communion  96 

Prayer  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Pious  Custom  of 

Daily  Communion  98 

“ Why  Art  Thou  Afraid  ? ” 98 

Chapter  20 

The  Frequent  and  Daily  Communion  of  Children  . 99 

Pontifical  Decree 99 

Chapter  21 

On  the  Power  Which  Holy  Communion  Has  to  Sanctify 
Us  . 


107 


12' 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  22 

PAGE 

The  Importance  of  Frequent  Communion  . . .no 

Chapter  23 

On  the  Pretexts  Many  Christians  Put  Forward  as  a 
Reason  for  not  Approaching  the  Holy  Table  . .113 

Chapter  24 

On  the  Just  Chastisements  Reserved  for  Those  Who  Do 
not  Go  to  Communion 116 

Chapter  25 

On  Preparation  for  Holy  Communion  . . . .119 

Chapter  26 

On  Thanksgiving  after  Holy  Communion  . . .123 

Chapter  27 

On  Prolonging  the  Thanksgiving  after  Communion  . 127 

I.  The  Venerable  Pere  Eymard  on  Holy  Communion  . 127 

II.  Reflections  on  Prolonging  the  Thanksgiving  after 

Communion 129 

Chapter  28 

On  Spiritual  Communion 13 1 

Chapter  29 

The  Love  of  the  Most  Blessed  Virgin  for  Souls  Who  Re- 
ceive Communion  Frequently 133 

Chapter  30 

On  the  Reasons  Why  the  Attendance  at  Holy  Mass  Is 
so  Scanty 137 


CONTENTS 


13 


Chapter  31 

PAGE 

The  Nature  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  . . 140 

Chapter  32 

The  Ends  for  Which  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  Is 
Offered  . . . 145 

Chapter  33 

The  Ends  for  Which  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  Is 
Offered  (Continuation  of  the  Same  Subject)  . . 149 

Chapter  34 

Various  Methods  of  Hearing  Holy  Mass  . • .153 

Chapter  35 

The  Best  Way  of  Assisting  at  Mass.  The  Sublimity  of 
the  Most  Holy  Sacrifice 156 

Chapter  36 

On  Assisting  at  Mass  upon  Week  Days  . . .182 

Chapter  37 

Holy  Mass  a Homage  of  Supreme  Esteem  . . . 185 

Zeal  for  Assisting  at  Holy  Mass 185 

Occupation  of  the  Soul  during  Holy  Mass  . . .185 

Chapter  38 

On  the  Love  of  Mary  for  Those  Who  Hear  Mass  Fre- 
quently   194 


14 


CONTENTS 


APPENDIX:  CONCERNING  CERTAIN  PRACTICES  OF 
DEVOTION  TOWARD  THE  MOST  HOLY  SACRA- 
MENT AND  THE  SACRED  HEART  OF  JESUS 

Chapter  1 

PAGE 

On  the  Exposition  and  Benediction  of  the  Blessed 


Sacrament 199 

Chapter  2 

The  Feast  of  Corpus  Christi 203 

Chapter  3 

What  Should  Be  Done  in  Order  to  Sanctify  Aright  the 
Feast  of  Corpus  Christi  and  Its  Octave  . . . 209 

Chapter  4 

The  Feast  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  . . .213 

Chapter  5 

The  First  Friday  of  the  Month 219 

Chapter  6 


The  Promises  of  Our  Divine  Redeemer  to  Those  Who 
Venerate  and  Practise  Devotion  to  His  Sacred 


Heart 221 

The  Twelfth  Promise  in  Particular  . . . .221 

Chapter  7 

The  Holy  Hour 228 

Chapter  8 


The  Apostleship  of  Prayer  the  Perpetuation  of  the 
Work  of  the  Incarnation 232 

Chapter  9 

Pious  Practices  in  Honor  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  235 


CONTENTS 


15 


part  2 

PRAYERS  AND  DEVOTIONS  FOR  VARIOUS  OCCA- 
SIONS, IN  PARTICULAR  FOR  VISITS  TO  THE 
BLESSED  SACRAMENT,  THE  HOLY  HOUR  AND 
THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 

/looming  praters 

PAGE 

Morning  Offering  of  the  Apostleship  of  Prayer  . . 245 

Morning  Salutation  and  Offering  to  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment   246 

Evening  praters 

A Night  Prayer  by  St.  Alphonsus  Liguori  . . . 248 
Night  Salutation  and  Prayer  to  Jesus  in  the  Tabernacle  249 

The  Angelus . 249 

The  Regina  Coeli 250 

/Ifcass  Devotions 

THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS  with  the  Proper 
Parts  from  the  Votive  Mass  of  the  Most  Holy 

Sacrament  252 

Prayers  after  Low  Mass 275 

MASS  TO  BEG  FOR  PEACE 277 

INDULGENCED  PRAYERS  ARRANGED  FOR  USE 
AT  MASS  . , 281 

Devotions  for  Confession 

Before  Confession 305 

Prayer . . .305 

Examination  of  Conscience 306 

The  Ten  Commandments  of  God  ....  306 

The  Six  Commandments  of  the  Church  . . . 307 


16 


CONTENTS 


The  Seven  Deadly  Sins  and  the  Opposite  Virtues  . 
The  Four  Sins  Which  Cry  to  Heaven  for  Vengeance 
Nine  Ways  of  Being  an  Accessory  to  Another’s  Sin 
The  Seven  Spiritual  Works  of  Mercy 
The  Seven  Corporal  Works  of  Mercy 

Preliminary  Examination 

Examination  on  the  Ten  Commandments  of  God 
Examination  on  the  Precepts  of  the  Church 

After  the  Examination 

An  Act  of  Contrition  ...... 

An  Act  of  Charity 

Thanksgiving  after  Confession 

Ejaculations 

Devotions  for  Dolv  Communion 

Before  Communion 

Direct  Your  Intention 

Acts  of  Faith,  Adoration,  Hope,  Charity,  and  Contri- 
tion   

Prayer  

After  Communion 

Acts  of  Adoration,  Thanksgiving,  Reparation,  and 
Prayer  ......... 

Suscipe 

The  Anima  Christi 

Prayer  for  the  Church  and  the  Supreme  Pontiff,  for 
Friends,  Relatives,  and  Benefactors;  and  for  the 

Holy  Souls  in  Purgatory 

O Sacrum  Convivium 

Prayer  before  a Representation  of  Jesus  Crucified  . 
Prayer  

another  jForm  of  Devotion  for  Dolv 
Communion 

Before  Communion 

An  Act  of  Faith  and  Adoration  . . . 

An  Act  of  Hope  . - 


PAGE 

307 

307 

307 

308 

308 

308 

308 

310 

310 

3io 

3ii 

312 

312 

3i3 

3i3 

3i4 

3i4 

3i5 

3i5 

317 

3i7 

318 

318 

3i9 

320 

1 

321 

321 

321 


CONTENTS 


An  Act  of  Love  and  Desire 

An  Act  of  Contrition 

An  Act  of  Humility 

Domine  Non  Sum  Dignus 

After  Communion 

Welcome 

Faith  and  Adoration 

Hope  

Love 

Consecration  . . . . 

Reparation 

Prayer  

Oblation 

Thanksgiving 

Prayer  of  St.  Thomas  Aquinas  .... 
Offerings,  Thanksgiving,  and  Petitions  of  St.  Ger- 
trude   

Anima  Christi,  Sanctifica  Me 

Prayer  to  Jesus  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar  . 

Ejaculations 

Prayer  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus 

Thanksgiving  and  Petitions 

Indulgenced  Prayer  to  Be  Said  after  Holy  Com- 
munion   

Prayer  for  Perseverance 

Ejaculations 

A Plenary  Indulgence  at  the  Hour  of  Death 
Thanksgiving  to  the  Holy  Trinity  . 

Indulgenced  Prayer  to  Jesus  Crucified 


©racers  and  Devotions  for  Disits  to  tbe 
JBlessed  Sacrament,  tbe  tt»our  of  Hd= 
oration,  and  tbe  Ibolg  Ibour 

Moments  before  the  Tabernacle  . 

Jesus  Is  Waiting  in  His  Prison  of  Love 


17 

PAGE 

321 

322 
322 
323 
323 

323 

324 

325 

326 
326 

327 

328 
329 

329 

330 

331 

332 

333 
333 

333 

334 

336 

337 

337 

338 

338 

339 


341 

342 


18 


CONTENTS 


PAGI 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION. 

Method  of  Adoration  according  to  the  Four  Ends  of 

Sacrifice 348 

First  Quarter  of  an  Hour  — Adoration  . . . 348 

Second  Quarter  of  an  Hour  — Thanksgiving  . . 349 

Third  Quarter  of  an  Hour  — Reparation  . -351 

Fourth  Quarter  of  an  Hour — Prayer  . . *353 

THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION  . . 355 

Indulgence  Attached  to  This  Devotion.  * . . . 355 

The  Liturgy  of  the  Forty  Hours 356 

First  Day 356 

Pange  Lingua 356 

Psalm  69 358 

Second  Day 361 

Third  Day . 361 

Lauda  Sion  Salvatorem  . . . . 362 

PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS  TO  THE  BLESSED 

SACRAMENT 364 

Indulgences  for  the  Hour  of  Adoration  on  Thursdays  364 
Short  Indulgenced  Visit  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament  364 
Prayer  of  St.  Alphonsus  Liguori  for  a Visit  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  ......  365 

Prayer  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament  . . . 367 

Prayer  in  Behalf  of  a Municipality  ....  367 

Act  of  Spiritual  Communion  of  St.  Alphonsus  Liguori  368 

Prayer  : “ Behold,  my  most  loving  Jesus  ” . . 368 

Prayer  to  Jesus  in  the  Holy  Eucharist  . . 369 

Oblation  of  St.  Ignatius  Loyola  ....  369 

Anima  Christi,  Sanctifica  Me 370 

Prayer  to  the  Sacred  Heart  .....  370 

Prayer  to  the  Divine  Heart  of  Jesus  . . . 371 

Ejaculation  to  the  Sacred  Heart  ....  371 

Indulgenced  Prayer  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  for 
the  Church  and  the  Supreme  Pontiff : for  the  Liv- 
ing and  the  Dead 371 

Cardinal  Newman’s  Prayer  for  a Happy  Death  . 372 

Prayer  for  Those  in  Their  Agony  ....  372 

Prayer  to  Jesus  . 372 


CONTENTS 


19 

PAGE 

Short  Indulgenced  Prayer  for  the  Souls  in  Purgatory  373 
Petitions  before  the  Most  Holy  . . . -373 

Ejaculations  for  a Happy  Death  ....  374 

ACTS  OF  FAITH,  HOPE,  AND  CHARITY  IN  THE 

PRESENCE  OF  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  374 

Act  of  Faith 374 

Act  of  Hope  and  Confidence  in  God  . . 375 

Act  of  Charity 376 

Prayer  for  Greater  Love  of  Jesus  . . . -377 

Act  of  Contrition 378 

Another  Act  of  Contrition 378 

Act  of  Consecration,  by  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  . 379 

Ejaculation  of  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  . . . 380 

Consecration  to  the  Sacred  Heart  ....  381 

Act  of  Oblation  to  be  Made  before  a Representation  of 

the  Sacred  Heart  382 

Indulgenced  Acts  of  Devotion  in  Honor  of  the  Eucharis- 
tic Heart  of  Jesus 382 

Indulgenced  Acts  nf  Adoration  and  Thanksgiving  . 385 

Tantum  Ergo 387 

Act  of  Reparation  to  Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  389 

Act  of  Reparation  of  Honor  to  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  Most  Adorable  Sacrament  of  the  Altar  . . 389 

Prayer  to  Our  Lord  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  . . 391 

Prayers  during  a Procession  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  392 

Offering  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  . . . 392 

Act  of  Reparation  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  (for 

the  First  Friday) 393 

Act  of  Consecration  and  Reparation  to  the  Most  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus  (with  prayers  for  the  Pope,  the 

Church,  etc.) 394 

Act  of  Consecration  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  . 395 

Indulgenced  Chaplet  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  . 396 

Prayer  in  Honor  of  the  Sacred  Sufferings  of  Our 

Saviour 399 


20 


CONTENTS 


Prayer:  “ Divine  Jesus  ” for  a Holy  Death 

Ejaculatory  Prayer  to  Our  Lord 

Ejaculation  of  Resignation  to  the  Will  of  God 
Prayer  : “ Jesus,  My  Master  ” .... 

Prayer  to  Jesus  for  a Holy  Life  and  a Happy  Death,  in 

Honor  of  the  Holy  Family 

Acts  of  Adoration  and  Reparation  to  Jesus  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  ...... 

Seven  Offerings  of  the  Precious  Blood 

Act  of  Oblation  in  Thanksgiving  for  Blessings  Received 

Offering  of  the  Precious  Blood 

Prayer  to  Jesus  Dead 

Prayer  in  Honor  of  the  Most  Holy  Name  of  Jesus 
Prayer  to  Jesus  Our  Redeemer:  An  Act  of  Reparation 
for  Blasphemies  Uttered  against  the  Holy  Name 

Invocations 

Prayer  of  St.  Clare  of  Assisi  to  the  Five  Wounds  of 
Our  Saviour  ........ 

Prayers  for  the  Church  and  for  the  Civil  Authorities 
A Prayer  for  All  Things  Necessary  to  Salvation  . 
Prayers  in  Commemoration  of  the  Passion  of  Our  Lord, 
for  the  Poor  Souls  in  Purgatory  .... 

Versicle  and  Responses  for  the  Dead  . . . . 

De  Profundis  for  the  Faithful  Departed 
Ejaculation  of  St.  Jerome  Emiliani  . . . . 

Short  Prayer  in  Honor  of  the  Holy  Family  . 

Three  Offerings  in  Honor  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
Prayer  of  St.  Alphonsus  Liguori  to  Be  Said  before  a 
Representation  of  Our  Lady  . . . . 

Dedication  of  St.  Aloysius  to  Our  Lady  . 

Ejaculation  to  Our  Lady  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
Prayer  to  Mary,  Our  Lady  of  Good  Counsel 
Ejaculations 


PAGE 

399 

400 
400 

400 

401 
401 

404 

406 

406 

406 

407 

408 

409 

409 

412 

414 

415 

417 

418 

419 
419 

419 

420 

420 

421 
421 
421 


CONTENTS 


21 

PAGE 


Prayer  to  Our  Lady,  Mother  of  Confidence  .421 

Chaplet  in  Honor  of  the  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary  . 422 

Ejaculations 424 

Anthem,  Versicle,  and  Prayer  in  Honor  of  the  Immacu- 
late Mary 425 

Invocation  to  Mary  Immaculate  . . . . *425 

Consecration  and  Prayer  to  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help  425 

Prayer  to  Mary  Our  Helper 426 

Pious  Exercise  in  Honor  of  Our  Lady  of  Dolors  . . 427 

Prayer  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  Our  Lady  of 
Sorrows 428 


Cbe  lprieoner  of  Xovc 

Venite,  Adoremus 429 

Who  Is  This  Prisoner  of  Love  in  the  Tabernacle  of  the 

Altar  ? 429 

What  Is  the  Occupation  of  This  Prisoner  of  Love  ? . 429 
What  Is  the  Desire  of  This  Prisoner  of  Love  ? . . 430 

Venite,  Adoremus 430 

Whom  Does  This  Prisoner  of  Love  Cherish  Most?  . 430 

Ejaculations 431 

Jesus,  Master,  Teach  Me  ......  432 

B /Ibetbob  tor  tbe  Ibour  of  Bboration 

First  Quarter  of  an  Hour  433 

Second  Quarter  of  an  Hour 435 

Third  Quarter  of  an  Hour  ......  436 

Fourth  Quarter  of  an  Hour 437 

Indulgenced  Prayer  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  for  the 
Church  and  the  Supreme  Pontiff : for  the  Living  and 
the  Dead 439 


22 


CONTENTS 


A METHOD  FOR  THE  HOLY  HOUR 
“ Could  You  Not  Watch  One  Hour  with  Me  ? ” 

Offering  of  the  Holy  Hour 

Acts  by  Which  to  Unite  Oneself  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus 
Praying  in  the  Garden  of  Olives  .... 

Ejaculations 

Prayer  for  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  .... 
Prayer  for  God’s  Holy  Church  .... 
Prayer  to  the  Holy  Spirit  for  the  Church 
Prayer  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith  . 

Prayer  for  Benefactors 

Prayers  to  Implore  Peace 

THOUGHTS  AND  AFFECTIONS  ON  THE  PAS- 
SION OF  OUR  LORD 

Steps  of  the  Passion 

Hymn  to  the  Sacred  Heart 

Forget  Me  Not 

Hymn  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament 

THE  MYSTERIES  OF  THE  HOLY  ROSARY 

Prayer  to  St.  Joseph  for  the  October  Devotions  . 

Invocation  to  St.  Joseph 

Prayer  to  St.  Joseph,  Patron  of  the  Universal  Church 
THE  EUCHARISTIC  ROSARY  . . . . 

THE  BEADS  OF  THE  SACRED  HEART  . 

THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS 


Xftanles 

Litany  of  the  Most  Holy  Name  of  Jesus 
Litany  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  . 
Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
Litany  of  St.  Joseph  .... 
Litany  of  the  Saints  .... 


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CONTENTS 


23 


J6encDlction  of  tbe  JSlceeeb  Sacrament 


PAGE 

Prayers  at  Benediction  ......  497 

Ejaculations 498 

O Salutaris  Hostia 498 

Tantum  Ergo  Sacramentum 499 

Prayer  . 500 

An  Act  of  Reparation  for  Profane  Language  . . 500 

Adoremus  in  Aeternum 500 

Laudate 500 

Te  Deum  Laudamus 501 

Holy  God,  We  Praise  Thy  Name  ....  505 

Alphabetical  Index 507 


part  II 

INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  ON  OUR 
DUTIES  TOWARD  JESUS  IN  THE  MOST  HOLY 
SACRAMENT  OF  THE  ALTAR 


Chapter  t 

Jesus  Christ  Its  not  IRnown  nor  Its  Me  XoveO  In 
tbe  flfcost  Bootable  Sacrament  ot  tbe  Bitar 

IT  was  only  granted  to  a few  chosen  souls  to  know 
Jesus  Christ  in  His  hidden  life.  His  holy  Mother 
and  His  foster-father  St.  Joseph  knew  Him;  the 
family  of  St.  Elizabeth  also  knew  Him;  and  the 
relatives  and  friends  of  the  shepherds  who  went  to 
adore  Him  in  the  stable  at  Bethlehem  knew  Him. 
But  with  the  exception  of  those  pious  persons  Our 
Lord  was  unknown  to  the  world  at  large.  Yet  the 
greater  number  of  the  Jews  believed  in  the  future 
Messias  and  desired  to  see  Him.  They  entertained 
the  idea  of  a promised  Redeemer  Who  was  to  come, 
but  they  looked  no  further. 

In  the  present  day  it  is  the  same  in  regard  to  Jesus 
Christ  dwelling  amongst  us  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 
He  is  unknown  to  the  great  majority  of  men,  as  He  was 
at  Bethlehem.  Too  many  professing  Christians  have 
no  practical  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

If  St.  John  the  Baptist  were  to  return  to  earth,  into 
how  many  parishes  might  he  not  go,  and,  pointing  to 
the  tabernacle,  say  to  the  people : “ There  hath  stood 
One  in  the  midst  of  you  Whom  you  know  not.”  1 If 
you  knew  Him  you  would  think  of  Him,  you  would 
come  to  visit  Him.  In  like  manner  St.  John  the 
Evangelist  might  repeat  the  same  words  in  the  present 
day  that  he  wrote  in  the  earliest  ages  of  Christianity : 
“ He  came  unto  His  own,  and  His  own  received  Him 
not.”  2 

Yes,  we  can  not  but  say,  and  with  sorrow  we  say  it: 
Jesus,  living  in  the  sacrament  of  His  love,  is  unknown, 
is  a stranger ; and  wTe  must,  alas,  add  that  He  is  not 
loved. 

“ Where  your  treasure  is,”  Our  Lord  says,  “ there 
1 Medius  vestrum  stetit  quem  vos  nescitis. — Joan.  i.  26. 

2 In  propria  venit,  et  sui  eum  non  receperunt. — Ibid.  n. 
27 


28  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


will  your  heart  be  also.”  1 Is  Jesus  in  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  the  treasure  of  many  hearts  ? 

The  mind  generally  acts  in  accordance  with  the 
affections  of  the  heart.  A mother  separated  from  her 
son  frequently  thinks  of  him.  Never  does  she  forget 
him,  either  in  her  hours  of  joy  or  her  seasons  of  sorrow. 
Why  does  that  mother’s  heart  dwell  with  her  absent 
child?  It  is  because  she  loves  him. 

Would  you  know  for  certain,  O Christian  souls, 
whether  you  really  love  Jesus  Christ  abiding  in  the 
Holy  Eucharist?  Ask  yourself  whether  the  remem- 
brance of  that  Prisoner  of  Love  is  often  present  to 
your  mind.  If  it  is  so,  you  have  reason  to  rejoice,  for 
your  heart  beats  in  unison  with  the  Heart  of  Jesus. 
But  if  — which  God  forbid  — you  never  think  of  the 
divine  Guest  dwelling  in  the  tabernacle,  we  are  obliged, 
however  sorrowfully,  to  tell  you  that  you  do  not  love 
Him. 

Alas,  how  small  is  the  number  of  Christians  who 
think  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  present  in  the  Blessed 
Sacrament!  How  small  the  number  of  those  who  in 
their  daily  pursuits  bear  in  mind  the  God  of  love! 

It  may  perhaps  be  urged  that  this  teaching  is  above 
ordinary  Christians,  that  they  can  not  occupy  them- 
selves with  the  thought  of  Our  Lord  in  the  sacred 
host  as  Religious  do.  To  those  who  are  inclined  to 
put  forward  this  objection  we  reply  by  referring  them 
to  the  Council  of  Trent.  It  is  the  wish  of  the  sacred 
Council  that  the  faithful  should  communicate  at  every 
Mass,  not  merely  spiritually,  but  by  sacramental 
reception  of  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

If  the  Fathers  of  the  Council  desired  that  the  faithful 
should  communicate  frequently,  every  time,  in  fact, 
that  they  hear  Mass,  as  far  as  this  is  possible,  would 
they  not  be  equally  desirous  that  Christian  people 
should  think,  sometimes  at  least,  of  Our  Lord  Jesus, 
Who  deigns  to  dwell  among  us  under  the  Eucharistic 
veils? 

1 Ubi  enim  thesaurus  vester  est,  ibi  et  cor  vestrum  erit. 
— Luc.  xii.  34. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  29 

The  mere  thought  of  the  love  of  Jesus  for  man 
moved  St.  Francis  of  Assisi  to  tears,  and  when  he  was 
asked  why  he  wept,  he  answered : M Love  is  not 
known,  love  is  not  loved!  ” 

When  we  think  of  the  abandonment  in  which  Jesus 
is  left  within  our  tabernacles,  of  how  He  is  there  ig- 
nored and  forsaken,  we  would  fain  have  a voice  loud 
enough  to  be  heard  by  all  Christians  throughout  the 
world;  we  would  fain  teach  them  to  know  and  to 
love  Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  But  the  means 
of  doing  this  is  not  within  our  power,  and  we  endeavor 
to  supply  the  lack  of  it  by  writing  this  unpretending 
little  volume.  God  grant  that  it  may  cause  the  divine 
Stranger  inhabiting  the  tabernacle  to  be  better  known 
and  more  devotedly  loved. 


Chapter  2 

©ur  jffret  S>ut£  toward  ©ut  Xord  fn  tbe  Ibolg 
j£ucbartet  fls  to  WeUeve  In  rate  IReal  presence 

>^HE  real  presence  of  Our  Lord  in  the  Blessed 
VzJ  Sacrament  is  a dogma  of  our  faith.  It  is  a truth 
of  which  the  proof  is  found  in  Holy  Scripture;  it  is, 
moreover,  believed  and  taught  by  the  Catholic  Church. 

Jesus  Christ  first  of  all  announced  the  institution 
of  the  divine  Eucharist  in  these  words:  “ I am  the 
living  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven.  If  any 
man  eat  of  this  bread  he  shall  live  for  ever ; and  the 
bread  that  I will  give  is  My  flesh,  for  the  life  of  the 
world.  Amen,  amen,  I say  unto  you,  except  you  eat 
the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  man  and  drink  His  blood,  you 
shall  not  have  life  in  you.”  1 Later  on,  He  instituted 
the  adorable  Sacrament  of  the  Altar. 

It  was  on  Holy  Thursday,  the  eve  of  His  death,  that 
the  institution  took  place.  Jesus  sat  down,  and  the 
twelve  apostles  with  Him,  to  eat  the  paschal  lamb; 
while  they  were  at  table  He  took  bread,  blessed  it, 
broke  it  and  gave  it  to  them,  saying : “ Take  ye  and 
1 John  vi.  51,  52,  54. 


30  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

eat.  This  is  My  body.”  And,  taking  the  chalice,  in 
which  there  was  wine,  He  blessed  it  and  gave  it  to  His 
disciples,  saying:  “ Drink  ye  all  of  this,  for  this  is  My 
blood.”  “ Do  this,  as  often  as  you  shall  do  it,  for  a 
commemoration  of  Me.” 

The  Apostle  St.  Paul  also,  in  his  First  Epistle  to  the 
Corinthians,  severely  censures  those  who  venture  to 
approach  the  Holy  Table  with  a guilty  conscience,  and  he 
impresses  on  them  the  duty  of  self-examination  before 
receiving  communion.  “ Whosoever  shall  eat  this 
bread  or  drink  the  chalice  of  the  Lord  unworthily,  shall 
be  guilty  of  the  body  and  of  the  blood  of  the  Lord.  But 
let  a man  prove  himself,  and  so  let  him  eat  of  that  bread 
and  drink  of  the  chalice.”  1 Thus,  O Christian  reader, 
you  see  that  Holy  Scripture  clearly  teaches  us  the  doc- 
trine of  the  real  presence  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the 
Eucharist. 

Yet,  in  spite  of  the  definite  declaration  of  these  texts, 
Calvin,  in  the  sixteenth  century,  dared  to  affirm  that 
the  Holy  Eucharist  is  nothing  but  an  image,  a symbol,  a 
representation  of  the  body  and  the  blood  of  Our  Lord ; 
an  impious  and  sacrilegious  doctrine  that  is  manifestly 
in  direct  contradiction  to  the  words  of  the  Son  of  God 
Himself  in  the  Gospel:  “ This  is  My  body;  this  is  My 
blood.”  The  Church  condemns  this  Protestant  error 
in  one  of  the  Canons  of  the  Council  of  Trent:  “ If  any- 
one denieth  that,  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Most  Holy 
Eucharist  are  contained  truly,  really,  and  substantially, 
the  body  and  blood  together  with  the  soul  and  divinity 
of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  consequently  the  whole 
Christ;  but  saith  that  He  is  only  therein  as  in  a sign, 
or  in  figure,  or  virtue;  let  him  be  anathema.”2 

From  the  earliest  ages  of  Christianity  the  faithful 
have  always  believed  the  teaching  of  the  Church,  and 
we  might  cite  the  unanimous  testimony  of  the  holy 
bishops  and  Doctors  of  the  Church  in  support  of  the  real 

1 1 Cor.  xi.  27. 

2 Sess.  XIII.  1.  From  the  Canons  and  Decrees  of  the 
Sacred  and  (Ecumenical  Council  of  Trent,  translated  by  the 
Rev.  J.  Waterworth. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  31 

presence,  were  it  not  that  these  quotations  would  carry 
us  too  far  afield.  We  prefer  to  call  attention  to  another 
more  striking  proof  — the  miraculous  manifestations 
of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Sacrament  of  His  love. 
We  shall  often  have  occasion  again  to  recall  these 
Eucharistic  miracles;  one  of  the  most  remarkable  is 
that  which  took  place  at  Turin,  1453,  during  the  pontifi- 
cate of  Nicholas  V,  at  the  time  when  the  states  of  Pied- 
mont and  Savoy  were  governed  by  Louis  of  Savoy. 

At  a village  called  Exilles,  near  the  frontier,  in  the 
diocese  of  Susa,  a dispute  arose  between  the  Pied- 
montese and  the  French  concerning  several  merchants 
who  had  been  arrested  with  their  merchandise.  A 
sanguinary  encounter  ensued,  the  village  was  laid  waste 
and  given  over  to  pillage.  While  the  affray  was  at  its 
height,  some  thieves  made  their  way  into  the  church 
and  stole  several  articles  of  value  belonging  to  divine 
worship,  amongst  them  a monstrance  containing  a con- 
secrated Host.  A mule  was  laden  with  this  and  other 
booty,  and  the  miscreants  hastened  to  leave  the  scene 
of  their  crime.  Thoy  passed  through  Susa,  Vigiliano, 
and  Rivoli,  without  meeting  with  any  hindrance,  doubt- 
less because  God  willed  to  have  a larger  theater  and 
one  more  worthy  of  the  miracles  He  intended  to  per- 
form. They  entered  Turin  and  had  scarcely  reached 
the  Church  of  St.  Sylvester,  which  is  situated  in  the 
center  of  the  town,  when  the  mule  stood  still  and  could 
not  be  prevailed  on  by  shouts  or  blows  to  proceed 
farther.  At  length  he  fell  on  his  knees;  at  the  same 
moment  the  bale  of  goods  he  was  carrying  burst  open, 
and  out  of  it  the  monstrance  issued,  rising  slowly  in 
the  air  until  it  attained  a great  height,  where  it  remained 
suspended,  emitting  rays  of  light  more  brilliant  than 
those  of  the  noonday  sun. 

This  marvelous  occurrence  quickly  attracted  an  im- 
mense crowd,  amongst  whom  there  was  a holy  priest, 
named  Bartholomew  Coccono,  who  hastened  to  ac- 
quaint the  bishop  with  what  had  occurred.  As  soon 
as  the  bishop,  Msgr.  Louis  Romagnano,  was  convinced 
that  a miracle  had  taken  place,  he  summoned  all  the 


32  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

clergy  to  attend  him,  and,  preceded  by  a cross-bearer, 
he  repaired  to  the  spot.  On  reaching  it,  he  fell  on  his 
knees.  All  who  were  present  followed  his  example,  and 
behold!  the  monstrance  gradually  descended  to  the 
ground,  where  it  rested  in  the  midst  of  the  clergy. 
Meanwhile  the  Host,  having  quitted  the  lunette,  re- 
mained suspended  in  the  air,  casting  dazzling  rays  in 
every  direction.  Then  the  bishop  ordered  a chalice  to 
be  brought  to  him,  and  this  he  held  with  the  greatest 
respect  below  the  sacred  Host;  immediately  it  came 
down  and  alighted  upon  the  rim  of  the  chalice. 

This  miraculous  Host  was  carried  to  the  cathedral 
amid  the  enthusiastic  acclamations  of  the  people,  whose 
faith  was  reanimated  by  so  signal  a miracle.  It  was 
reserved  there  for  some  time,  until  orders  came  from 
Rome  to  consume  it. 

Unable  any  longer  to  pay  direct  homage  to  the  sacred 
Host,  the  inhabitants  of  Turin  desired  to  honor  the  spot 
where  the  miracle  took  place ; a church  was  accordingly 
built  there,  and  in  1529,  for  the  purpose  of  increasing 
and  propagating  the  adoration  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, the  Association  of  Corpus  Domini  was  estab- 
lished in  that  same  church;  the  armorial  bearings  of 
the  Confraternity  being  a chalice  surmounted  by  a host, 
in  memory  of  the  wondrous  occurrence.  In  1835  the 
Sacred  Congregation  of  Rites  authorized  the  use  of  an 
Office  commemorative  of  the  miracle,  with  proper  les- 
sons giving  its  history.  * 

Let  us,  then,  Christian  brethren,  believe  in  the  real 
presence  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Holy  Eucharist.  Let 
us  believe  it  with  a lively  and  unwavering  faith ; this  is 
the  first  duty  we  owe  to  our  Lord  and  Saviour. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  33 


practical  ffaltb  In  tbe  IReal  presence 
Watts  to  tbe  Bleaaeb  Sacrament1 

V f^E  ALL  believe  that  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  the 
fJcA»  true  body  and  blood,  soul  and  divinity  of  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  under  the  appearance  of  bread  and 
wine.  Yes;  we  all  believe  it,  but  — do  we  realize  it? 

We  all  believe  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament;  we  believe 
in  it  without  the  shadow  of  a doubt;  but  we  realize  it  so 
lightly  that  hours  and  days  pass  by  without  our  think- 
ing of  its  presence  in  the  world.  Indeed,  many,  per- 
haps, who  would  not  dream  of  missing  their  Sunday 
Mass  are  actuated,  if  they  would  but  examine  them- 
selves, not  so  much  by  the  desire  of  coming  into  the 
presence  of  the  Holy  Eucharist  and  of  assisting  at  its 
sacrifice,  as  by  mere  habit  of  obedience  to  the  Church, 
or  through  fear  of  becoming  guilty  of  mortal  sin  by  cul- 
pable absence.  Not  that  I depreciate  for  one  moment 
either  of  these  motives  — God  forbid!  Only , if  we 
realize  what  we  profess  to  believe,  we  would  require  no 
command  from  the  Church  to  make  us  hear  Mass,  and 
no  threat  of  incurring  the  guilt  of  sin  by  failing  to  do  so. 

There  are  many  persons  who  wish  they  had  lived  at 
“ the  time  of  Our  Lord.”  Now,  this  is  ten  thousand 
times  more  the  time  of  Our  Lord  than  when  He  walked 
the  earth  in  His  visible  humanity.  Then  He  was  cor- 
porally present  in  but  one  place  at  a time,  and,  com- 
paratively speaking,  but  a small  number  of  men  were 
blessed  with  the  sight  of  His  divine  countenance.  But 
now,  in  every  place  where  His  word  is  preached,  He 
Himself  abides,  not  in  figure,  but  in  reality.  Many  of 
you  live  quite  close  to  a church;  you,  perhaps,  pass  it 
daily  in  your  walks,  or  as  you  go  to  and  from  your  work. 
Do  you  think  of  it?  Do  you  realize  that  He  Himself  is 
there,  as  truly  present  as  He  was  present  in  the  Holy 
Land  eighteen  centuries  ago  ? Do  you  realize  that  the 
same  pierced  hands  are  waiting  there  to  bless  you,  the 
same  gentle  eyes  to  gaze  upon  you,  and  that  the  same 

1 From  The  Blessed  Sacrament  Our  God.  (Inserted  by 
the  Editor.) 


34  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

adorable  Heart  is  calling  you,  loving  you,  waiting  for  you 
to  give  it  some  little  sign  of  love,  or  at  least  recognition 

— if  nothing  more  than  a genuflection  ? 

Oh!  Do  you  think  that  if  Catholics  realized  what 
they  believe,  it  would  be  possible  to  go  into  a church  at 
any  hour  and  find  it  empty  ? Do  you  think  that  people 

— aye,  and  good  people,  too,  who  go  regularly  to  their 
duties,  and,  perhaps,  hear  Mass  daily  — could  pass  and 
repass  churches  without  seeing  or  feeling  the  necessity 
of  entering,  even  if  only  for  a moment  ? 

Alas,  people  will  cheerfully  undergo  endless  pains 
and  fatigues  in  making  pilgrimages  to  holy  relics  and 
holy  places,  and  yet  they  will  not  turn  down  the  next 
street  in  order  to  visit  Him  from  Whom  both  relics 
and  places  derive  their  holiness! 

Truly  we  “ have  eyes  and  we  can  not  see,  ears  and 
we  can  not  hear.,,  I am  afraid  we  have  also  under- 
standings and  we  can  not  understand! 

Perhaps  you  will  object  to  me  that  in  His  sacra- 
mental life  Our  Lord  does  not  speak  to  and  console  you 
as  He  would  have  done  in  His  home  at  Nazareth? 

Your  very  objection  proves  how  little  knowledge  and 
experience  you  have  of  the  Holy  Eucharist.  God  Him- 
self has  said,  “ Come  to  Me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
burdened,  and  I will  refresh  you  and  none  can  go 
to  the  Blessed  Sacrament  with  faith,  with  earnestness, 
and,  above  all,  with  love,  without  experiencing  the  in- 
fallibility of  that  divine  promise.  Go  to  the  altar  when 
you  are  in  grief,  and  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  you  will  find 
resignation,  if  not  consolation;  go  to  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament when  you  are  beset  with  worries,  doubts,  and 
discouragement,  and  in  the  silence  of  the  sanctuary 
you  will  remember  that  a faithful  friend  is  near  you, 
one  Who  has  said,  “ Behold!  I am  with  you  all  days , 
even  to  the  consummation  of  the  world.”  Go  to  the 
Holy  Eucharist  simply  out  of  love ; and  oh!  with  what 
divine  peace  will  your  hidden  God  repay  you,  filling 
your  soul  to  overflowing  with  the  sense  of  His  awful, 
yet  most  gentle,  presence.  Even  if  to  try  your  faith 
and  affection  He  occasionally  withdraw  all  sensible 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  35 

consolation,  so  that  you  find  yourself  filled  with  dis- 
tractions, and  apparently  deprived  of  all  devotion,  why 
should  you  fear?  He  is  none  the  less  there  because 
He  does  not  see  fit  to  speak  to  you.  Say  to  Him,  in  the 
words  of  the  saintly  Father  Eymard,  the  Apostle  of  the 
Blessed  Sacrament:  “ O my  God,  when  I loved  Thee 
with  tenderness  I was  very  happy;  now,  my  heart  is. 
cold  and  desolate.  ...  Well,  I will  love  Thee  more 
than  the  sweetness  of  Thy  love!  Does  my  heart  tell 
me  I do  not  love  Thee  ? I will  love  Thee  in  spite  of  my 
heart  — with  my  will!  ” 

Oh,  if  we  only  learned  to  realize  that  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  is  our  God,  what  a sense  of  joy  and  pro- 
tection would  enter  into  our  lonely  lives!  God  living 
here  with  me;  God  living  here  for  me.  We  would 
haunt  our  altars  at  every  untoward  circumstance,  at 
every  grief  and  trial  that  crossed  our  path.  Instead  of 
which  I have  seen  good,  pious  Catholics,  who,  when 
oppressed  with  sorrow,  have  shut  themselves  up  for 
days , considering  that  the  bitterness  of  their  woe  dis- 
pensed them  from  their  daily  Mass  and  visit!  Poor 
souls!  How  little  they  know  Our  Lord,  to  think  that, 
because  they  are  unable  to  go  through  their  usual 
prayers  and  devotions,  it  is  useless  to  come  in  before 
Him!  They  would  not  have  acted  thus  in  what  they 
are  pleased  to  call  “ the  time  of  Our  Lord.”  They 
would  have  known  that  the  mere  sight  of  their  tears 
was  prayer  enough  for  Him.  God,  the  eternal,  im- 
mutable God,  is  the  same  now  as  then,  and  now,  as 
then,  He  never  sees  His  children  weeping  in  His 
presence  without  being  moved  to  compassion. 

Finish  these  considerations  with  some  practical  little 
resolutions. 

First,  then,  let  us  resolve  never  to  pass  by  or  near  a 
church  without  entering  it.  If  we  have  plenty  of  time 
surely  we  need  not  grudge  Our  Lord  a few  moments, 
while  we  make  a quiet  little  act  of  adoration  at  His  feet. 
If  we  are  pressed  for  time,  let  us  still  enter,  if  only  to 
make  a genuflection,  and  hurry  out  again.  For,  even 
if  we  do  not  say  one  word  with  either  heart  or  lips,  what 


36  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

does  that  genuflection  mean  ? It  is  in  itself  an  act  of 
faith,  and  a proof  of  love:  an  act  of  faith,  because  by 
that  reverent  bending  of  the  knee  we  acknowledge  the 
divine  presence ; a proof  of  love,  for  surely,  if  we  were 
indifferent  to  that  presence,  we  would  not  have  troubled 
to  come  in  and  pay  it  homage. 

And,  supposing  time  does  not  permit  of  even  a mo- 
ment’s visit,  let  us  at  least  salute  our  Master  in  our 
hearts,  and  not  be  ashamed  to  acknowledge  Him  as  we 
pass  His  door,  reverently  raising  our  hats,  or  quietly 
making  the  sign  of  the  cross  — Protestants’  smiles  and 
astonishment  notwithstanding. 

Above  all,  let  us  always  remember  that  every  time 
we  set  foot  in  a church  where  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
is  kept  God  does  us  an  immense  favor  and  condescen- 
sion in  allowing  us  to  enter  His  presence;  and  let  us 
beware  of  that  feeling  which  sometimes  creeps  into  our 
hearts  (after,  say,  turning  a good  bit  out  of  our  way  to 
visit  the  Blessed  Sacrament),  a feeling  that  we  have 
been  very  good  indeed,  and  that,  in  fact,  Our  Lord  ought 
to  be  grateful  for  the  trouble  we  have  taken,  and  the 
attention  we  have  paid  Him! 


Chapter  3 

Ifn  Hdbat  State  ©ur  Hort>  3-eaus  Cbrtet  IRemaina 
in  tbe  dboet  THolg  Sacrament 

'/•/)  ■ ‘E  have  just  proved  that  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
\JLK,  is  really  present  in  the  Eucharist.  He  is  there 
under  the  species  or  appearances  of  bread  and  wine. 
It  is  in  Holy  Mass,  at  the  solemn  moment  of  consecra- 
tion, that  the  bread  and  wine  are  changed  into  the 
body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  is  what  the 
Church  terms  transubstantiation , that  is  to  say,  the 
change  of  the  whole  substance  of  the  bread  into 
the  body  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  whole  substance  of 
the  wine  into  His  most  precious  blood. 

But  in  what  state  is  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  thus 
present  in  the  Sacrament  of  His  love?  Is  He  in  the 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  37 

same  state  in  which  He  was  during  His  life  on  earth  ? 
Or  is  His  body  covered  with  wounds,  as  it  was  during 
His  passion  ? Or,  finally,  is  it  in  the  same  state  as  in 
heaven  ? 

To  all  these  questions  theologians  reply  that  the 
words  of  consecration  place  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  state  in  which  He  naturally  is  at  the. moment  when 
the  priest  pronounces  them.  For,  since  His  resurrec- 
tion, Jesus  Christ  is  living  and  glorious:  “ Christ  rising 
again  from  the  dead,  dieth  now  no  more,”  as  St.  Paul 
says.1  Since,  therefore,  the  consecration  takes  place 
while  Jesus  Christ  is  in  the  glory  of  heaven,  it  follows 
that  He  is  in  the  same  state  of  perfection  and  felicity 
as  in  heaven. 

Yes,  verily,  the  God  of  the  tabernacle  is  the  risen 
Christ.  In  virtue  of  the  consecration,  the  adorable 
body  of  the  Saviour  is  present  upon  the  altar ; it  is  there 
after  the  manner  of  spirits,  independent  of  the  laws  of 
space,  whole  and  entire  in  the  Host,  whole  in  every 
particle,  as  the  soul  is  wholly  present  in  the  body  and 
in  each  one  of  its  parts.  It  is  a body  animated  and 
vivified  by  its  holy  soul  and  united  to  the  divinity 
from  which  the  body  and  soul  of  the  Saviour  can  not 
be  separated.  Thus  it  is  Jesus  Christ  in  His  entirety 
with  all  the  attributes  of  the  glorified  body  — agility, 
subtility,  beauty,  impassibility.  He  is  there,  with  His 
Sacred  Heart,  with  all  His  goodness,  all  His  virtues, 
all  His  perfections.  He  is  the  God  of  heaven,  but  in 
how  incomparable  a manner  does  He  manifest  His  love! 
On  high,  He  shows  Himself  in  all  His  glory  to  the  angels 
and  the  elect;  here,  He  conceals  His  presence  beneath 
the  veil  of  the  Host;  on  high,  He  is  in  His  natural  state, 
in  the  state  in  which  His  glorious  resurrection  placed 
Him;  here,  by  a miraculous  exercise  of  His  power,  He 
is  clothed  with  the  appearances  of  bread  and  wine ; it 
is  His  sacramental  state,  and  this  sacramental  state  is 
the  greatest  humiliation  of  the  Son  of  God,  the  most 
signal  proof  of  His  love. 

1 Christus  resurgens  ex  mortuis,  jam  non  moritur.  — Rom. 
vi.  9. 


38  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

These  words:  “ Verbum  caro  factum  est  ” — “ the 
Word  was  made  flesh,”  are  indeed  enough  to  cause  in 
the  mind  of  man  amazement  and  awe;  the  Apostle 
himself  exclaims,  filled  with  the  deepest  admiration: 
“ He  emptied  Himself,  taking  the  form  of  a servant.” 
But  in  the  humiliation  of  the  Incarnation,  Jesus  is 
visible ; He  can  make  use  of  His  body,  and  act  accord- 
ing to  His  bodily  nature.  In  the  Eucharist,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  Saviour  is  deprived  of  all  power  to  perform 
the  ordinary  actions  of  sensitive  life;  He  is  there,  as 
if  He  had  really  become  bread,  as  if  He  had  changed 
Himself  into  food,  His  humanity  imprisoned  in  the 
sacred  species,  and,  in  a certain  sense,  at  the  mercy  of 
His  creatures,  as  if  He  were  a corpse ; He  gives  no  sign 
of  life,  He  is  wrapped  as  if  dead,  in  the  shroud  of  the 
sacred  species.1 

Awaken  your  faith,  O Christians,  and  whenever  you 
enter  a church,  however  poor  and  dilapidated  it  may 
be,  ask  yourselves  Who  it  is  that  condescends  to  dwell 
within  the  tabernacle.  Your  faith  will  tell  you  that  it 
is  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,  the  Son  of 
the  Virgin  Mary;  that  it  is  the  eternal  Word,  that  is  to 
say,  the  Power  which  can  do  everything,  the  Wisdom 
which  guides  everything,  the  Goodness  which  bestows 
everything;  it  is  Light,  Riches,  Immensity,  Life;  it  is 
the  same  Jesus  Who  lives  and  reigns  at  the  right  hand 

1 By  the  words  of  consecration  the  priest  places  on  one 
side  the  body,  and  on  the  other  the  blood,  of  Jesus  Christ. 
This  mystical  separation  recalls  the  sacrifice  of  Calvary, 
where  the  Redeemer  delivered  up  His  body  and  shed  His 
blood;  but, independently  of  this  mystic  separation,  the  sac- 
ramental state  in  which  the  priest  places  Jesus  Christ  forms, 
according  to  the  opinion  of  the  most  eminent  theologians, 
the  very  essence  of  the  sacrifice.  “ Is  not  this  annihilation 
tantamount  to  death  ? ” asks  Fr.  Tesniere,  when  treating 
of  this  subject;  “ did  the  victim  slain  in  the  sacrifices  of  an- 
cient days  disappear  more  utterly  from  sight  in  the  ashes 
left  upon  the  altar  than  Christ  does  beneath  the  accidents 
of  the  sacred  species?  ” “ O priest,”  the  angels  might  well 

say  to  the  celebrant,  “ Thou  hast  reduced  the  King  of  glory 
to  nothingness!  ” 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  39 

of  the  Father,  , Whose  brightness  illuminates  the 
heavens,  and  Whose  presence  is  the  joy  of  the  elect. 
While,  in  virtue  of  His  nature,  He  is  all  this,  in  His 
sacramental  state  we  perceive  in  Him  no  vestige  of 
divinity,  He  seems  to  be  destitute  alike  of  glory  and 
of  beauty;  the  smallest  particle  contains  Him,  and,  im- 
prisoned in  the  sacred  species,  He  is  defenceless,  at  the 
mercy  both  of  men  and  of  the  elements.  Amid  the 
humiliations  of  His  life  on  earth,  He  lost  nothing  of 
His  divinity;  in  the  abasements  of  His  sacramental 
life,  He  possesses  in  like  manner  all  the  glory  of  His 
divinity,  all  the  perfection  of  His  glorified  humanity. 
Thus  the  bread  of  angels  becomes  the  food  of  pilgrims 
upon  earth;  God  is  the  nutriment  of  mortal  men.  The 
tabernacle  is  at  one  and  the  self-same  time  heaven  and 
Calvary.1 

Christians,  you  who  enter  Catholic  churches  without 
deigning  to  kneel  down,  appear  to  ignore  this  truth. 
Oh,  could  you  but  see  Our  Lord  in  the  state  in  which 
He  remains  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament!  Could  you 
but  comprehend  what  is  the  breadth , and  length , and 
height , and  depth  of  the  love  of  Jesus  annihilated  for 
your  sake,  how  would  your  heart  melt  in  His  presence 
with  feelings  of  gratitude  and  love!  With  what  senti- 
ments of  reverence  and  devotion  would  you  not  be 
inspired! 

“ In  1263,  a German  priest,  whose  life  was  virtuous 
and  pious,  was  assailed  by  the  devil  with  doubts  as  to 
the  real  presence  of  Our  Lord  in  the  Eucharist.  God 
condescended  to  confirm  the  faith  of  His  servant  by 
means  of  a miracle.  One  day,  when  this  priest  was 
offering  the  Holy  Sacrifice  in  the  church  of  Bolsena,  the 
sacred  Host  appeared  to  be  covered  with  blood  at  the 
moment  of  the  Elevation,  and  such  was  the  profusion 
with  which  this  blood  flowed  forth,  that  the  corporal 
became  saturated  with  it.  And,  marvelous  to  relate, 
this  miracle  assumed  a double  form,  for  every  drop  of 

1 We  only  give  here  an  abridgment  of  the  teaching  of  the 
learned  Cardinal  Franzelin  and  of  M.  Abbe  Buathier,  whose 
expressions  we  have  borrowed. 


4©  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

blood  bore  the  imprint  of  a human  countenance.  The 
priest  had  not  power  to  complete  the  sacrifice,  he 
opened  the  tabernacle,  placed  the  corporal  in  it,  and, 
half  dead  with  terror,  withdrew  from  the  church.  Pope 
Urban  IV  was  then  at  Orvieto.  The  priest  hastened 
thither,  and,  after  confessing  his  trouble  to  the  Holy 
Father,  he  informed  him  of  all  that  had  occurred.  The 
Pope,  thereupon,  commanded  the  miraculous  corporal 
to  be  brought  in  procession  to  Orvieto,  and  placed 
with  all  due  ceremonial  in  the  cathedral,  where  it 
has  been  venerated  by  the  faithful  ever  since  the 
period  in  question.,,  O Christian  soul,  how  deeply  to 
be  commiserated  would  you  be,  if  you  were  destitute 
of  an  implicit  belief  in  the  real  presence  of  Jesus  Christ 
in  the  Holy  Sacrament,  for  the  Eucharist  is  the  sun 
which  illuminates  Christian  life. 

Blot  out  the  sun  from  the  visible  world,  and  all  nature 
will  suffer  in  consequence.  Thus  it  is  in  regard  to  the 
life  of  each  individual  Christian;  his  progress  in  the 
path  of  salvation  is  in  proportion  to  his  belief  in,  and  his 
love  for,  Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host.  In  concluding  the 
present  chapter  we  will  repeat  the  words  formerly 
addressed  by  an  angel  to  St.  Augustine : “ Tolle  lege  ” 
— “ take  and  read.”  Take  and  read  this  little  book, 
and  with  the  help  of  God,  it  will  teach  you  to  know  and 
love  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament. 


Chapter  4 

Cbe  Xove  of  3-egus  Gbrlst  for  Souls  UHlbo  Ibave 
a %ivel'e  jFaltb  In  fills  IReal  ©tesence.  flbeans 
UfflbetebE  to  llncrease  fTbls  ifatfb 

*7ESUS  CHRIST,  whilst  abiding  in  our  midst  in  the 
e)  Holy  Eucharist  with  all  the  attributes  of  His  glorified 
body,  is  nevertheless  the  same  as  He  was  when  so- 
journing upon  earth.  His  soul  and  body  were  indeed 
glorified  on  the  day  when  He  rose  again,  but  He  is 
always  the  same  Jesus,  Who  loved  souls,  sought  them 
out,  and  gave  His  life  for  their  salvation.  “ Thou  art 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  41 

unchanged,  most  merciful  Lord  Jesus,  and,  whilst 
dwelling  in  the  Holy  Eucharist,  Thou  lovest  best  those 
souls  who  resemble  the  humble  believers  whose  story 
we  read  in  the  pages  of  the  holy  Gospels.” 

To  whom,  it  may  be  asked,  did  Our  Lord  show  a 
preference  during  His  mortal  life?  To  those  who 
possessed  the  most  lively  faith.  In  order  to  prove  this 
assertion,  we  have  only  to  open  the  Gospels.  Behold 
the  centurion  who  sent  to  ask  Jesus  Christ  to  heal  his 
servant.  “ I will  go  and  heal  him,”  answered  the 
gracious  Master.  When  the  centurion  heard  this,  feel- 
ing himself  unworthy  to  receive  the  visit  of  Our  Lord, 
he  said:  “Lord,  trouble  not  Thyself:  for  I am  not 
worthy  that  Thou  shouldst  enter  under  my  roof;  but 
say  the  word,  and  my  servant  shall  be  healed.” 1 
Jesus  hearing  these  words,  marveled,  and  turning 
about  to  the  multitude  that  followed  Him,  He  said: 
“ Amen,  I say  to  you,  I have  not  found  so  great  faith, 
not  even  in  Israel.  And  I say  to  you  that  many  shall 
come  from  the  east  and  the  west,  and  shall  sit  down 
with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.  But  the  children  of  the  kingdom  shall  be  cast 
out  into  the  exterior  darkness.  Go,  and  as  thou  hast 
believed,  so  be  it  done  to  thee.”  The  Church  has  so 
appreciated  the  beautiful  words  of  the  centurion  that 
she  repeats  them  whenever  we  present  ourselves  at 
the  Holy  Table. 

Behold  likewise  that  unfortunate  woman  who  was 
troubled  with  an  issue  of  blood  twelve  years,  and  had 
suffered  many  things  from  many  physicians;  and  had 
spent  all  that  she  had,  and  was  nothing  the  better,  but 
rather  worse.  When  she  had  heard  of  Jesus,  she  came 
in  the  crowd  behind  Him,  and  touched  His  garment. 
For  she  said:  “ If  I shall  touch  but  His  garment,  I shall 
be  whole.”  2 She  approached  Our  Lord,  and  touched 
the  hem  of  His  garment,  and  was  cured  immediately. 
And  Jesus  said  to  her:  “ Daughter,  thy  faith  hath 

1 Sed  die  verbo  et  sanabitur  puer  meus.  — Luc.  vii.  7. 

2 Si  tetigero  vestimentum  ejus,  salva  ero.  — Marc.  v. 
28. 


42  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

made  thee  whole : go  in  peace,  and  be  thou  whole  of 
thy  disease.”  1 

We  might  adduce  other  facts,  but  these  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  convince  you  that  during  His  mortal  life  the 
Saviour  loved  believing  souls.  Now  the  God  of  the 
Eucharist  is  the  same  God  we  find  in  the  Gospel.  He 
has  a special  predilection  for  souls  who  have  a lively 
faith  in  His  real  presence  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

On  one  occasion,  when  St.  Stanislas  Kostka  was 
dangerously  ill,  he  was  unable  to  receive  the  Viaticum 
because  he  was  living  with  Lutherans,  who  would  not 
allow  a Catholic  priest  to  cross  their  threshold.  The 
saint  had  recourse  to  St.  Barbara,  placing  implicit  con- 
fidence in  her,  since  this  virgin  martyr  is  specially  in- 
voked by  those  who  are  anxious  not  to  die  without  the 
sacraments,  because  she  herself  received  the  sacred 
Host  in  a miraculous  manner  when  in  prison.  The 
eminent  piety  of  the  youthful  saint  of  whom  we  write 
merited  to  receive  a similar  favor.  One  night  the  saint 
appeared  to  him  accompanied  by  two  angels  resplendent 
with  brightness,  one  of  whom  bore  the  Most  Holy  Sac- 
rament. Filled  with  ineffable  delight,  Stanislas  knelt 
upon  his  bed,  recited  aloud  the  Prayers  before  Com- 
munion, and  received  the  sacred  Host.  This  signal 
favor  was  succeeded  by  another  no  less  remarkable. 
The  Most  Blessed  Virgin  visited  her  devout  servant  in 
person,  expressed  her  wish  that  he  should  enter  the 
Society  of  Jesus,  and,  in  order  to  confirm  her  words, 
placed  in  his  arms  the  divine  Child,  Who  loaded  him 
with  the  tenderest  caresses.  Shortly  afterward  Stanis- 
las set  out  secretly  on  foot  for  Augsburg,  where  he  was 
admitted  into  the  novitiate.  In  the  course  of  this  jour- 
ney he  entered  a village  church,  as  he  ardently  longed 
to  communicate ; discovering,  however,  that  the  build- 
ing belonged  to  Lutherans,  he  left  it  speedily,  imploring 
Our  Lord  not  to  deprive  him  on  this  day  of  the  spiritual 
food  for  which  his  soul  hungered.  His  petition  was 
granted  at  once ; an  angel  came  down  from  heaven  and 
administered  Holy  Communion  to  him. 

1 Filia,  fides  tua  te  salvam  fecit.  — Marc.  v.  34. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  43 

Christian  souls,  do  you  desire  to  receive  very  special 
graces  ? Would  you  attain  sanctity  in  a speedy  man- 
ner? Have  a lively  faith  in  the  real  presence  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  the  Eucharist.  But  if  your  faith  is  feeble, 
we  will  mention  some  practical  means  whereby  it  may 
be  strengthened: 

1.  Ask  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  grant  you  a lively 
faith  in  His  real  presence.  Our  Lord  grants  this  signal 
grace  to  those  who  ask  it  of  Him  with  fervor.  We  re- 
semble the  father  in  the  Gospel  who  asked  in  a hesitat- 
ing manner  that  his  son  might  be  cured.  “ Master,” 
he  said,  “if  thou  canst  do  anything,  help  us,  having 
compassion  on  us.”  “ If  thou  canst  believe,”  Jesus 
said  to  him,  “ all  things  are  possible  to  him  that  be- 
lieveth.”  Then  the  father  of  the  boy,  crying  out  with 
tears,  said:  “ I do  believe,  Lord;  help  my  unbelief.”  L 
And  Our  Lord  cured  his  son.  Do  you,  Christian 
soul,  whenever  you  are  privileged  to  be  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  tabernacle,  say  to  Jesus:  “ Lord,  I believe 
that  Thou  art  really  present  here.  Graciously  in- 
crease my  faith,  O my  God!  Adjuva  incredulitatem 
meam /” 

2.  Moreover,  whenever  you  go  to  church  in  order  to 
hear  Mass,  to  assist  at  Vespers,  to  go  to  confession  or 
communion,  etc.,  adopt  the  pious  custom  of  always 
making  an  act  of  faith  in  the  real  presence  of  Our  Lord 
in  the  most  holy  Sacrament.  With  what  profit  would 
Christian  people  hear  Mass,  how  would  they  flock  to 
Vespers,  if  they  possessed  a more  lively  faith  in  the 
real  presence! 

3.  But  do  not  rest  satisfied  with  this  hidden  and  in- 
terior faith.  Make  an  outward  profession  of  it.  More 
especially  on  the  occasions  when,  in  conformity  with  the 
mind  of  the  Church,  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  carried 
through  the  streets  of  the  town  or  village  where  you 
live.  Do  not  shrink  from  accompanying  the  Saviour  in 
His  triumphal  procession.  For  remember  that  those 
only  will  be  admitted  by  Our  Lord  into  the  courts  of 

1 Credo,  Domine,  adjuva  incredulitatem  meam.  — Marc, 
ix.  23. 


44  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

heaven  who  have  not  been  ashamed  to  confess  Him 
before  men. 

Furthermore,  give  proof  of  your  faith  in  the  real 
presence  by  accompanying  the  priest  when  he  takes  the 
Viaticum  to  the  sick.  Let  us  not  forget  that  Jesus 
Christ  constantly  beholds  us,  and  that  even  our  most 
trifling  action  does  not  escape  His  watchful  eye,  not 
even  a cup  of  cold  water  given  in  His  name.  How 
much  more  reason  have  we  to  believe  that  He  notices 
a public  act  of  faith  in  His  presence  in  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

General  de  Sonis  had  so  intense  a respect  for  the 
Sacrament  in  which  God  conceals  His  majesty  out  of 
love  for  His  creatures,  that  he  could  not  bear  to  hear 
it  spoken  of  with  levity,  much  less  treated  with  con- 
tempt. One  day,  when  he  was  on  his  way  to  attend 
a meeting  of  the  Conference  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul,  a 
priest  bearing  the  Viaticum  happened  to  pass,  escorted 
by  a number  of  the  faithful.  Although  he  was  in  uni- 
form, Sonis  uncovered,  knelt  down,  and  reverently 
bowed  his  head  as  Our  Lord  passed  by.  At  the  same 
instant,  a loud  peal  of  laughter  sounded  in  his  ears; 
looking  up,  he  saw  at  a short  distance,  a young  woman 
seated  in  an  open  carriage,  and  dressed  in  the  height 
of  fashion,  who  was  eyeing  him  with  an  expression  of 
supreme  contempt.  Forgetting  everything  except  the 
insult  offered  to  his  Master  in  his  own  person,  he  rose 
from  his  knees,  and  looking  fixedly  at  the  lady  in  ques- 
tion, he  thus  addressed  her:  “ So  you  laugh  at  that,  do 
you!  ” These  unexpected  words,  and  the  tone  in 
which  they  were  uttered,  made  the  frivolous  creature 
turn  pale,  and  completely  silenced  her.  The  carriage, 
by  driving  quickly  away,  hid  her  confusion. 

4.  Finally,  whenever  you  see  a church,  remember 
that  Jesus  Christ  is  present  there,  in  the  Sacrament  of 
His  love.  “ Magister  adest  ” — “ The  Master  is  there.” 
If  you  can  enter  the  sacred  edifice,  and  address  a lov- 
ing word  to  this  gracious  Master,  see  that  you,  Christian 
soul,  do  not  fail  to  do  this.  If  you  can  not,  at  least  show 
some  token  of  respect  for  the  person  of  Jesus  Christ 
present  in  the  Holy  Eucharist,  and  repeat  these  words: 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  45 

“ O Sacrament  most  holy,  O Sacrament  Divine, 

All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  moment 
Thine!  ” 

Make  a practical  use  of  this  advice,  and  thus  you 
will  fulfil  the  first  of  your  duties  toward  Jesus  in  the 
Sacrament  of  His  love. 

B IRo^al  /IfcoDel1 

A beautiful  and  edifying  example  of  devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  was  given  by  King  Alphonsus  XII 
of  Spain  in  the  year  1881.  This  young  king,  who 
afterward  died  in  the  twenty-ninth  year  of  his  age, 
was  one  day  out  driving  in  his  carriage  accompanied 
by  the  queen.  It  happened  that  on  the  way  they 
chanced  to  meet  a priest  carrying  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment to  a sick  person.  In  Catholic  countries  this  is 
done  with  much  greater  pomp  and  circumstance  than 
in  these  lands.  . . . Abroad,  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is 
carried  publicly  through  the  streets,  accompanied  by 
white-robed  acolytes  bearing  lighted  torches  and  cen- 
sers, breathing  the  sweet  perfume  of  smoking  incense, 
and  followed  by  a goodly  train  of  pious  persons,  who 
esteem  it  their  highest  privilege  thus  to  honor  the  sacra- 
mental presence  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  The  advent  of 
the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  heralded  by  tinkling  bells, 
and  the  faithful  throw  themselves  upon  their  knees  as 
the  procession  passes  by. 

The  young  king,  seeing  the  procession  approaching, 
stopped  his  carriage  and  got  out.  The  people  were 
delighted  and  amazed.  Place  was  made  for  him  at 
once  beside  the  priest,  and  with  head  uncovered  and 
reverential  mien  Alphonsus  XII  of  Spain  accompanied 
the  God  of  Armies  to  the  lowly  home  where  death  was 
about  to  claim  its  victim. 

Great  was  the  astonishment  of  the  poor  family  at 
seeing  so  illustrious  a personage  enter  under  their 

1 From  Tales  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  by  Rev.  Joseph 
McDonnell,  S.J.,  Irish  Messenger  Series. 


46  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

humble  roof,  and  greater  still  the  edification  with  which 
they  saw  him  assist  on  bended  knees  at  the  entire 
function. 

Let  the  example  of  this  illustrious  monarch  animate 
you  to  greater  reverence  toward  Our  Blessed  Lord  in 
the  Holy  Eucharist.  Show  this  reverence  by  your 
modest  and  attentive  demeanor  in  the  chapel ; by  genu- 
flecting in  a proper  manner,  bending  your  right  knee 
to  touch  the  ground  when  you  enter  into  the  august 
presence  of  the  tabernacle ; lastly,  by  being  careful,  if 
possible,  to  raise  your  hat  or  show  some  other  token  of 
respect  whenever  you  pass  by  a church. 

N.B.  For  making  an  exterior  act  of  reverence  in 
passing  by  a church  or  oratory  where  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  is  kept,  an  indulgence  of  one  hundred  days 
has  been  granted.  — S.  Cong.  Indul.  July  3,  1908. 


Chapter  5 

Gbe  Second  ot  tbe  2>utle0  WLe  ©we  to  5esus 
Cbrtst  tn  tbe  lEucbartst  ITs  to  BOore  Iblrru  Zbc 
Obligation  to  Genuflect 

HE  second  of  the  duties  we  owe  to  Jesus  Christ 
Vz)  in  the  Holy  Eucharist  is  to  adore  Him.  This 
duty  is  the  direct  and  obvious  consequence  of  His 
presence  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament.  There  are  two 
ways  of  adoring  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Holy  Eucharist  — 
one  is  external  and  the  other  internal.  To  genuflect  is 
to  perform  an  external  act  of  adoration ; we  shall  speak 
in  this  chapter  of  the  obligation  which  rests  upon  all 
Christians  to  genuflect  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

“ Genuflection,”  says  a pious  writer  of  the  present 
day,  “ is  the  most  natural  sign  of  the  adoration  we  owe 
to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament.  When 
we  remember  that  the  insults  offered  to  Our  Lord  are 
more  numerous  than  ever  before,  it  is  a strict  necessity 
to  offer  Him  in  reparation  the  sign  of  the  humble  adora- 
tion incumbent  on  all  Christians  as  an  open  recognition 
of  His  divinity.” 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  47 

The  origin  of  genuflection,  as  performed  by  Chris- 
tians, is  pointed  out  to  us  in  the  Gospel  itself.  Mary 
was  the  first  to  bow  the  knee  before  her  divine  Son. 
She  adored  Him,  St.  Ambrose  tells  us,  as  soon  as  she 
had  lovingly  laid  Him  in  the  crib : 

“ Quem  genuit  adoravit.” 

The  Magi  brought  the  traditions  of  the  East  to  the  stable 
of  Bethlehem,  they  knelt  down  on  both  knees,  or  pros- 
trated themselves,  before  offering  their  mystic  gifts.1 
The  man  who  was  blind  from  his  birth  heard  that  He 
Who  had  cured  him  was  none  other  than  the  Son  of 
God.  He  heard  it  from  Jesus  Himself.  At  once  he 
said:  “ I believe,  Lord.  And  falling  down  he  adored 
Him.”  2 

These  genuflections,  this  adoration,  this  offering  of 
gold,  incense,  and  myrrh,  were  but  the  fertile  germ  of 
the  Christian  liturgy,  destined  to  blossom  throughout 
all  the  ages  around  the  Eucharistic  altar,  alike  in  the 
most  humble  chapels  and  the  most  magnificent  cathe- 
drals. 

It  was,  in  fact,  the  universal  custom  from  the  earliest 
ages  of  Christianity,  to  genuflect  on  entering  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  No  exception  was 
known  anywhere,  until  the  Jansenists  and  Gallicans 
interfered  with  the  liturgy.  In  the  present  day  in  all 
Catholic  countries  the  faithful  genuflect;  although  in 
France  some  years  ago  even  good  Catholics  thought  it 
enough  merely  to  bow  the  head  on  entering  or  leaving 
a church,  as  a recognition  of  Our  Lord’s  presence.  But 
now,  owing  to  the  wise  admonitions  of  the  bishops, 
almost  all  pious  Catholics  habitually  genuflect;  and 
priests,  when  they  teach  catechism,  instruct  the  chil- 
dren to  bow  the  knee,  so  that  the  practice  may  now  be 
said  to  be  universal. 

For  the  purpose  of  inducing  all  Catholics  to  adhere 
to  the  traditions  of  the  Church  in  this  respect,  we  will 

1 Procidentes  adoraverunt  eum.  — Matt.  ii.  2. 

2 Et  procidens  adoravit  eum.  — Joan.  ix.  58. 


48  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

adduce  some  unanswerable  arguments;  namely,  the 
decisions  of  the  Holy  See. 

The  Sacred  Congregation  of  Rites  has  decreed,  upon 
several  occasions,  and  again  quite  recently,  that  women 
as  well  as  men  are  to  genuflect  before  the  Blessed 
Sacrament. 

A decree  of  the  14th  of  October,  1662,  commands  all 
the  faithful  without  distinction  of  sex  to  genuflect  before 
the  Blessed  Sacrament.1 

Pius  IX  had  very  much  at  heart  the  wish  to  see 
France  return  to  the  ancient  traditions  of  the  Church, 
and  again  pay  to  Our  Lord  the  homage  which  is  His 
due.  On  the  2nd  of  January,  1877,  he  caused  a letter 
to  be  addressed  by  his  Vicar,  Cardinal  Monaco  la 
Valetta,  to  Msgr.  Gaume,  couched  in  the  following 
terms: 

“ The  Sovereign  Pontiff  highly  praises  the  zeal  with 
which  you  endeavor  to  see  that  those  who  are  com- 
mitted to  your  care  render  to  Our  Lord  in  the  Most 
August  of  Mysteries  the  homage  which  is  His  due.  It 
is  the  wish  of  His  Holiness  that  preachers,  catechists, 
confessors,  and  parish  priests  should  constantly  impress 
upon  the  faithful  the  duty  of  genuflecting  before  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament.”  . 

In  order  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  Holy  Father, 
Cardinal  Guibert,  archbishop  of  Paris,  immediately 
ordered  the  following  note  to  be  printed  in  the  Ordo 
for  the  laity: 

“ If  the  faithful  pass  before  the  tabernacle  where  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  is  reserved,  it  is  their  duty  to  genu- 
flect. If  they  pass  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
when  it  is  exposed  upon  the  altar,  it  is  their  duty  to 
bend  both  knees.” 

Finally,  in  June,  1879,  Leo  XIII  renewed  the  decree 
of  1662,  and  since  that  date  many  of  the  bishops  have 
advised  the  priests  belonging  to  their  various  dioceses 
to  remind  the  faithful  of  this  sacred  obligation. 

St.  Vincent  de  Paul  always  genuflected  with  much 

1 This  obligation  does  not  apply  to  persons  who  are  pre- 
vented by  infirmity. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  49 

respect  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  No  sooner  did 
he  notice  that  one  of  his  subjects  made  his  obeisance 
in  a careless  manner  than  he  reproved  him  in  private, 
01  even  in  public.  He  frequently  repeated  that  one 
ought  not  to  bend  the  knee  before  Jesus  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist  out  of  mere  habit,  but  with  faith  and  recol- 
lection. Even  after  he  had  attained  a great  age,  he 
continued  to  genuflect  in  spite  of  his  infirmities,  and  it 
was  often  necessary  for  some  one  to  assist  him  to  rise 
from  his  knees.  What  a lesson  is  this  for  so  many 
Christians  who,  although  perfectly  strong  and  well,  do 
not  take  the  least  trouble  in  order  to  pay  this  homage 
to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  sacred  Host! 

Understand,  therefore,  Christian  souls,  the  obliga- 
tion which  rests  upon  you  to  genuflect  every  time  you 
either  enter  or  leave  a church  where  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament is  reserved.  Make  this  genuflection  in  a spirit 
of  lively  faith,  and  while  bending  your  right  knee  to  the 
ground  repeat  one  of  the  following  ejaculations : 

We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  bless  Thee,  because 
by  Thy  holy  Cross  Thou  hast  redeemed  the  world. 

May  Jesus  Christ  be  ever  praised  and  adored  in  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar. 

Jesus,  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me! 

Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Living  God! 

Lord,  I believe  in  Thee,  I hope  in  Thee,  and  I love 
Thee  with  my  whole  heart! 


Chapter  6 

Gbe  Bet  of  BDoration  before  tbe  JBlesseb 
Sacrament 

ON  entering  the  sacred  edifice,  every  good  Christian 
takes  holy  water,  crosses  himself  devoutly,  and, 
on  reaching  the  altar  or  passing  before  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  he  genuflects. 

His  faith  causes  him  to  remember  that  he  is  in  the 
presence  of  God,  and,  in  order  to  renew  this  faith,  he 
says,  in  the  words  of  Scripture : M How  terrible  is  this 


50  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

place!  This  is  no  other  but  the  house  of  God,  and  the 
gate  of  heaven!  Put  off  the  shoes  from  thy  feet,  for 
the  place  whereon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground.  I 
will  come  into  Thy  house;  I will  worship  toward  Thy 
holy  temple  in  Thy  fear.” 

To  adore  God,  O Christian,  is  to  acknowledge  His 
supreme  dominion,  and  to  submit  oneself  absolutely 
to  Him,  both  in  heart  and  in  soul.  To  adore  the  In- 
carnate Word  present  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  is 
to  acknowledge  that  He  is  the  Creator.  “ Omnia  per 
ipsum  facta  sunt  ” — “ all  things,”  says  St.  John,  “ were 
made  by  Him.”  It  is  to  acknowledge  that  He  is  the  sov- 
ereign Lord,  the  Son  of  God,  Who  became  the  dear 
Redeemer  of  souls.  Once  again,  to  adore  Jesus  in  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament  is  to  offer  to  Him  all  that  we 
possess,  both  in  the  order  of  nature  and  in  that  of  grace ; 
it  is  to  submit  wholly  to  Him  our  understanding  and  our 
will;  our  understanding,  in  order  to  believe  all  the 
truths  which  He  has  revealed  to  us,  our  will,  in  order 
to  keep  all  His  commandments. 

Jesus  present  in  the  Holy  Eucharist  has  a right  to 
our  adoration.  When  Moses  was  approaching  the 
bush  that  was  on  fire,  he  heard  a voice  which  said: 
“ Put  off  the  shoes  from  thy  feet,  for  the  place  whereon 
thou  standest  is  holy  ground.”  1 The  furnace  of  the 
love  of  Jesus  Christ  for  men  is  the  Eucharist;  for  nine- 
teen centuries  He  has  burned  there  without  being 
consumed. 

Be  faithful,  Christian  souls,  to  the  important  duty  of 
adoring  Jesus  Christ  whenever  you  enter  a church. 
At  the  solemn  moment  of  the  elevation;  when  He  is 
exposed  upon  the  altar;  when  you  are  present  at  Bene- 
diction of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament ; on  all  these  occa- 
sions adore  Jesus  Christ  present  in  the  Sacrament  of 
His  love. 

We  told  you  just  now  that  Jesus  Christ  is  neither 
known  nor  loved  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  Without 
fearing  to  be  mistaken  we  may  add  that  He  is  not 
adored  there  as  He  ought  to  be.  The  greater  number 

1 Locus  enim  in  quo  stas,  terra  sancta  est.  — Ex.  iii.  5. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  51 

of  the  faithful  neglect  to  pay  Him  this  homage.  Is  it 
not  lamentable  to  see  so  many  careless  Christians  who 
scarcely  take  the  trouble  to  bend  the  knee  in  the 
presence  of  Him  Whom  all  the  heavenly  powers  adore 
with  trembling  ? Some  even  go  so  far  as  to  talk  within 
the  walls  of  the  sacred  edifice,  as  if  they  were  in  some 
ordinary  building. 

We  are  only  speaking  now  of  external  irreverence; 
let  us  look  below  the  surface,  and  examine  the  mind 
and  heart.  How  are  our  thoughts  too  frequently 
occupied  in  the  presence  of  Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host  ? 
Do  we  not  think  of  our  business,  our  amusements,  or  of 
some  worldly  trifles? 

When  we  thus  reflect,  we  can  understand  why  Our 
Lord  complained,  two  centuries  ago,  to  the  Blessed 
Margaret  Mary  in  some  such  terms  as  these : “ I desire 
to  be  known,  loved,  and  adored  by  men.  See  this 
Heart,  which  has  loved  men  so  much  that  it  has  spared 
nothing,  even  to  exhausting  and  consuming  itself,  in 
order  to  testify  to  them  its  love.  In  return  I receive 
from  the  greater  part  only  ingratitude,  by  reason  of  the 
contempt,  irreverence,  sacrilege,  and  coldness  that 
they  show  Me  in  this  Sacrament  of  love.  But  what  I 
feel  yet  more  is  that  there  are  some  hearts  consecrated 
to  Me  that  treat  Me  thus.” 

It  is  only  too  true  that  idolatry  has  reappeared  in  our 
midst,  and  the  eloquent  Bossuet  could  repeat  in  our  own 
day  what  he  said  of  the  ancient  heathen:  “ Everything 
was  God,  except  God  Himself.”  Some  worship  them- 
selves: “ quorum  deus  venter  est .”  They  make,  as 
St.  Paul  tells  us,  a god  of  their  belly.  Others  erect  an 
altar  to  free  thought;  rejecting  the  truths  of  the  Faith, 
they  admit  the  most  monstrous  errors,  and,  asserting 
themselves  to  be  entirely  independent  of  any  Supreme 
Being,  they  think  themselves  gods.  They  burn  incense 
before  the  golden  calf;  the  object  of  their  life  is  to 
amass  wealth,  no  matter  by  what  means,  and  to  enjoy 
themselves  to  the  uttermost. 

Beware,  Christian  soul,  of  being  led  astray  by  the 
seductions  of  a world  which  is  doomed  to  punishment 


52  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

on  account  of  its  idolatry:  “ Vae  mundo .”  Faithfully 
fulfil  the  commandment: 

“The  Lord  thy  God  shalt  thou  adore,  and  Him 
only  shalt  thou  serve.  Thou  shalt  love  Him  with  thy 
whole  heart,  and  with  thy  whole  soul,  and  with  all  thy 
strength.” 

Adore  the  most  holy  Trinity  — the  Father,  the  Son, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost.  Adore  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God  made  man.  He  abides  in  the  Eucharist  in  order 
to  receive  our  adoration  and  our  petitions.  Prove  to 
this  most  gracious  God  that  you  appreciate  the  honor 
He  shows  you  by  condescending  to  sojourn  in  our 
midst. 

The  ardent  love  felt  by  a pious  Dominican,  Father 
Ambrose  by  name,  for  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament, 
caused  him  to  be  intolerant  of  the  least  irreverence 
shown  to  Him  Who  conceals  His  awful  majesty  beneath 
the  Eucharistic  veil.  Whatever  might  be  the  rank  of 
the  offender,  he  gently  but  firmly  admonished  him  to 
conduct  himself  in  a more  becoming  manner  while  in 
the  presence  of  the  Sovereign  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth. 
On  one  occasion  the  Pretender,  Charles  Stuart,  when 
in  exile,  paid  a visit  to  the  church  of  the  Dominicans  at 
Brussels,  accompanied  by  the  Prince  of  Conde,  and 
several  other  personages  of  high  rank.  The  Blessed 
Sacrament  was  exposed  for  the  devotion  of  the  Forty 
Hours.  Charles  Stuart  did  not  heed  this,  but  began 
to  converse  with  the  members  of  his  suite.  The  Re- 
ligious who  were  in  the  church  thought  themselves 
obliged  to  conceal  the  indignation  which  this  irreverence 
caused  them.  But  Father  Ambrose  only  saw  in  the 
prince  and  the  courtiers  who  surrounded  him  Christians 
on  whom  it  was  incumbent  to  pay  homage  to  the  King 
of  kings;  he  went  up  to  them,  and  quietly  but  firmly 
reminded  them  of  the  respect  due  to  the  Holy  Eucharist. 
Charles  Stuart  took  the  reproof  in  good  part;  he  ad- 
mired the  zeal  for  the  house  of  God  which  actuated 
Father  Ambrose.  Kneeling  down  immediately,  he  said 
a prayer  and  left  the  church  in  silence. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  53 

Chapter  7 

tTbe  "Reasons  Tffilbs  Jesus  Cbrfst  ITnstituteD 
tbe  Sacrament  of  tbe  lEucbadst 

*7YfT* E reminded  you  in  our  former  chapters  of  the 
f fJcA>  first  duties  which  Christians  owe  to  Our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  the  Eucharist:  faith  in  His  real  pres- 
ence, and  the  obligation  to  adore  Him.  It  will  be  well 
before  proceeding  further  to  consider  the  principal 
reasons  why  Our  Lord  instituted  this  august  sacra- 
ment. An  acquaintance  with  these  reasons  will  en- 
able us  to  appreciate  more  fully  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ 
for  us  as  shown  in  the  Eucharist. 

The  Saviour  instituted  this  sacrament  in  order  to  be 
the  companion  of  our  earthly  pilgrimage,  our  food  at 
the  Holy  Table,  and  the  victim  offered  to  God  in  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass. 

From  these  three  principal  reasons  which  induced 
Our  Lord  to  institute  this  sacrament  there  result  for 
us  three  new  duties  which  we  ought  to  perform  in  re- 
gard to  Him  in  the  Holy  Eucharist:  We  ought  to  visit 
Him,  to  receive  Him  in  communion,  and  to  assist  at 
Mass.  We  will  speak  successively  of  these  different 
obligations. 

In  the  first  place,  Our  Lord  instituted  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Altar  in  order  to  be  the  Companion  of  our  earthly 
pilgrimage.  When  Jesus  Christ  told  His  disciples 
that  He  was  about  to  leave  them  in  order  to  return  to 
His  Father,  He  said  to  them  at  the  same  time  that  He 
would  not  leave  them  orphans : 1 and  while  depriving 
them  of  His  sensible  presence  He  promised  to  be  with 
them  in  another  manner,  even  to  the  consummation  of 
the  world.  Now  what  our  divine  Master  promised 
His  disciples  He  has  promised  us  likewise,  and  He 
fulfils  His  promise  by  abiding  in  the  Holy  Eucharist. 
It  is  there  that,  concealed  beneath  the  sacred  species, 
but  ever  glorious,  eternal,  majestic,  such  as  He  is  at 
the  right  hand  of  His  heavenly  Father,  Our  Lord  re- 
1 Non  relinquam  vos  orphanos.  — Joan.  xiv.  28. 


54  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

mains  constantly  with  us,  to  listen  to  and  receive  our 
prayers.  It  is  in  this  sacrament  that  He  causes  us  to 
enjoy  His  presence,  and  permits  us  to  live  in  familiar 
intercourse  with  Him. 

From  the  depths  of  the  tabernacle,  Jesus  repeats  to 
us  what  He  formerly  said  to  His  disciples:  “ Behold, 
I am  with  you  all  days,  even  to  the  consummation  of 
the  world.”  1 Behold  I am  with  you,  not  for  a day, 
for  a month,  for  a year,  but  for  all  future  ages  until  the 
consummation  of  the  world.  As  long  as  there  remains 
on  the  earth  one  single  soul  to  visit  Me,  to  love  Me, 
to  receive  Me,  I will  remain  in  the  Eucharist!  “ O 
My  children,”  Our  Lord  says  to  us,  “ although  I have 
ascended  to  heaven  do  not  imagine  that  you  have  lost 
Me;  I am  very  near  you;  I,  your  God,  your  Father, 
your  Redeemer,  your  Friend!  I am  in  the  Eucharist 
in  My  own  person.  I remain  in  this  sacrament  in  order 
to  be  the  companion  of  your  earthly  pilgrimage,  your 
help  in  dangers,  your  consolation  in  your  trials,  and 
your  strength  in  temptations.  Come  to  Me,  all  you 
that  labor  and  are  burdened,  and  I will  refresh  you.”  2 

“ When  a king,”  says  a celebrated  orator  of  our  own 
day,  “ visits  the  various  portions  of  his  empire  and 
condescends  to  show  himself  to  his  subjects,  he  alights 
at  some  public  building,  at  a place  of  which  every  one 
can  say,  * It  belongs  to  me,’  because  it  belongs  to 
every  one.  Immediately  a multitude  of  persons  hasten 
to  pay  their  respects  to  him,  some  in  order  to  ask  a 
favor,  others  to  be  kept  in  their  office,  these  to  ask  for 
help,  others  again  to  return  thanks  for  a benefit  re- 
ceived. We  have  in  our  midst  the  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth.  He  is  there,  not  for  a passing  visit,  but  by  day 
and  night,  and  during* a series  of  ages!  And  what  do 
men  do,  in  order  to  show  their  appreciation  of  such  in- 
finite condescension  on  the  part  of  their  God?  Do 
they  come  and  pay  court  to  Him?  Do  they  surround 

1 Ecce  ego  vobiscum  sum  usque  ad  consummationem 
saeculi.  — Matt,  xxviii.  20. 

2 Venite  ad  me,  omnes  qui  laboratis  et  onerati  estis,  et  ego 
reficiam  vos.  — Ibid.  xi.  28. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  55 

Him  in  order  to  give  thanks  to  Him  ? Do  those  who 
are  in  want  hasten  to  acquaint  Him  with  their  needs  ? 
No,  people  keep  away;  there  are  none  to  be  found  who 
remain  near  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Eucharist. 

“ One  day,”  continues  the  same  pious  writer,  “ I 
found  myseif  in  a village  church,  and,  whilst  kneeling 
on  the  steps  of  the  sanctuary,  I was  overcome  with 
grief  as  I thought  of  the  shameful  neglect  with  which 
He  Who  loved  us  so  tenderly  is  treated.  The  state  of 
the  weather  increased  the  deep  depression  I felt; 
everything  around  was  cold  and  dreary.  Outside  the 
building  the  rain  poured  down,  the  wind  howled  inside 
in  the  crevices  of  the  doors,  and  made  the  loose  panes 
of  the  windows  rattle.  Nothing  but  weird  sounds  met 
my  ear,  and  in  the  midst  of  them  all  I seemed  to  hear 
a plaintive  cry  proceeding  from  the  tabernacle,  a cry 
like  that  which  escaped  from  the  lips  of  the  Saviour 
when  expiring  upon  the  cross : * Why  have  ye  forsaken 
Me,  O My  people  ?’  — ‘ Ut  quid  dereliquisti  me ?* 
Tears  rose  to  my  eyes,  and  I asked  myself  why  Jesus 
remains  in  the  midst  of  us  when  we  leave  Him  to  a 
solitude  longer,  more  gloomy,  more  sorrowful  than  that 
of  the  Garden  of  Olives.  I feared  lest  the  angels 
should  say  to  Him,  as  they  formerly  did  at  the  door 
of  the  Holy  of  holies:  * Let  us  quit  this  place,  let  us 
quit  this  place!  9 But  I consoled  myself  with  the 
thought  that  there  are  always  somewhere  to  be  found 
pious  souls  who  compensate  by  their  ceaseless  adora- 
tion for  the  continued  forgetfulness  of  the  greater  part 
of  Christians. 

“ I allude  to  the  priests,  monks,  and  virgins,  the  re- 
cital of  whose  offices  continues  without  interruption 
throughout  the  universal  Church.  There  are,  more- 
over, pious  Christians  who  generously  undertake  to 
represent  their  fellow  creatures  before  Him  Who  honors 
us  by  abiding  continually  among  us.  All  the  hours  of 
the  day  are  thus  occupied,  and  the  silence  of  the  night 
is  broken  by  the  change  of  watchers  before  the  taber- 
nacle.” 1 

1 Paschal  retreat  preached  by  Father  Monsabre,  p.  13. 


56  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

St.  Vincent  de  Paul  was  so  deeply  touched  by  the 
love  which  Jesus  Christ  shows  us  by  remaining  among 
us  in  the  Eucharist,  that  he  visited  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment as  often  as  he  could.  There  he  went  to  seek 
rest  in  the  presence  of  the  Lord  from  the  fatigues  of  a 
wearing  and  austere  existence.  If  he  was  in  per- 
plexity with  regard  to  any  enterprise,  or  in  need  of 
advice,  he  went,  as  did  Moses,  to  the  holy  tabernacle, 
there  to  receive  the  orders  of  his  King.  Full  of  the 
deepest  humility,  he  knelt  down,  and  gave  himself 
wholly  up  to  the  sweetness  and  joys  of  a tender  and 
loving  piety.  Never  did  he  quit  the  church  without 
prostrating  himself  at  the  foot  of  the  altar  in  order  to 
implore  a blessing  from  the  Lord ; never  did  he  return 
to  his  own  room  without  returning  thanks  to  Him  for 
the  benefits  he  had  received,  and  entreating  Him  to 
pardon  the  faults  he  had  committed.  It  could  truly  be 
said  that  his  heart  was  continually  engaged  in  adoring 
the  Blessed  Sacrament,  even  when  he  was  himself  at 
a distance  from  it.  He  used  to  say  that  he  desired 
nothing  more  ardently  than  to  be  able  to  spend  his 
whole  life  before  the  sacred  tabernacle. 

How  happy  would  you  be,  Christian  soul,  if,  like  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul,  you  knew  how  to  appreciate  aright 
the  value  of  a visit  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  We 
will  endeavor  to  enlarge  upon  this  subject.  May  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  enlighten  you,  may  He  inspire  you 
with  a determination  to  visit  Him  in  the  Holy  Eucharist, 
as  often  as  it  may  be  in  your  power  to  do  so! 


Chapter  8 

Jesus  Gbdst  ©resent  in  t be  Messefc  Sacra^ 
ment  ITs  Der^  Xtttle  Dislteb 

IN  days  of  yore,  the  nations  of  the  earth  deemed  the 
Jewish  people  to  be  happy,  because  the  Lord  had 
pitched  His  tent  in  their  midst ; because  the  Ark  of  the 
covenant  encamped  amid  the  hosts  of  Israel.  But 
how  far  more  blessed  are  we  to-day.  Figures  and 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  57 

shadows  have  given  place  to  the  reality,  and  the  Lord 
is  with  us  in  very  deed.  The  God  of  heaven  has  be- 
come the  guest  of  man  upon  earth.  Jesus  has  made 
Himself  our  fellow  citizen,  our  brother,  in  a word  the 
companion  of  our  life  upon  earth. 

We  have  already  said  that  men  do  not  know  how  to 
appreciate  the  immense  benefit  and  blessing  which  is 
theirs  in  the  Eucharist.  “ The  Son  of  God,”  St. 
Gregory  tells  us,  “ traversed  space  in  order  to  reach 
man.  He  came  down  from  heaven  in  order  to  enter 
the  womb  of  Mary ; from  her  virginal  womb  He  passed 
to  the  manger,  and  from  the  manger  to  the  cross ; from 
the  cross  to  the  altar.”  And  men  do  not  trouble 
themselves  to  take  a few  steps  in  order  to  approach 
Him.  With  the  exception  of  Sundays  and  festivals, 
when  the  faithful  gather  together  in  the  churches  in 
order  to  hear  Mass,  and  the  more  fervent  among  them 
are  also  present  at  Vespers  and  Benediction,  Jesus 
Christ  remains  solitary  in  our  tabernacles.  Recalling 
to  our  minds  the  solitude  in  which  Jesus  Christ  is  left, 
a famous  orator  exclaims:  “ In  the  morning  a priest, 
in  the  company  of  a child,  says  a Mass  at  which  no 
one  is  present:  all  is  over  in  an  hour.  And  Thou  art 
left  alone,  O my  God,  absolutely  alone,  during  the  long 
hours  of  the  day  and  also  of  the  night.  A lamp,  often 
badly  kept  up,  burns  before  Thee  with  a flickering 
flame.  And  this  is  all  the  homage  offered  Thee  by 
Christian  nations,  who  ought  to  lie  prostrate  at  Thy 
feet  in  perpetual  adoration!  ” 

We  read  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  that  when  St. 
Paul  traversed  the  city  of  Athens,  he  saw  an  altar  with 
this  inscription:  “ Ignoto  Deo ” — “To  the  unknown 
God.”  Alas,  these  words  might  well  find  a place  on 
the  greater  number  of  our  tabernacles! 

What  piety  is  not  displayed  by  Catholic  pilgrims  in 
visiting  the  holy  places,  such  as  the  stable  of  Bethlehem, 
Calvary,  and  the  Holy  Sepulcher?  How  fervently  do 
they  not  pray  at  Lourdes?  How  lovingly  they  kiss 
the  rock  which  the  immaculate  Virgin  touched  with  her 
sacred  feet!  And  can  those  who  have  the  good  for- 


58  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

tune  to  visit  the  house  of  Loreto,  can  they  ever  forget 
the  pious  emotion  which  filled  their  hearts  when  they 
kissed  the  walls  which  were  sanctified  by  the  presence 
of  the  Holy  Family?  But  we  have,  very  near  to  us, 
something  better  than  all  that.  If  we  enter  the  most 
humble  chapel  where  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  re- 
served, we  shall  be  in  a place  sanctified,  not  by  the 
remembrance  of  Jesus  Christ  and  of  His  holy  Mother, 
but  in  the  presence  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  person. 
Far  be  it  from  us  to  blame  these  pilgrimages;  the 
Church  approves  and  recommends  them.  But  there 
is  another  pilgrimage  which  Holy  Church  wishes  us  to 
make  very  frequently : it  is  the  pilgrimage  to  our  parish 
church.  This  loving  Mother  has  very  much  at  heart 
to  see  us  visit  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament. 
By  the  mouth  of  her  Pontiffs  and  of  her  priests  she 
recommends  us  to  do  so.  But  alas,  the  great  majority 
of  Christians  fail  to  comply  with  the  pressing  invitations 
of  the  ministers  of  Holy  Church! 

Whatever  might  be  the  duties  Father  Balthasar 
Alvarez  had  to  fulfil,  he  frequently  turned  his  eyes 
toward  the  place  where  he  knew  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment to  be  reserved;  he  visited  it  very  often,  and 
sometimes  spent  whole  nights  at  the  foot  of  the  altar. 
He  could  not  restrain  his  tears  when  he  saw,  on  the 
one  hand,  the  palaces  of  kings  thronged  with  courtiers 
paying  homage  to  a mortal  man  from  whom  they  hoped 
to  receive  some  trifling  and  perishable  benefit;  and 
on  the  other,  our  churches  almost  entirely  empty  and 
deserted,  although  the  Lord  dwells  there,  the  King  of 
kings,  Who  abides  upon  earth  among  us,  as  upon  the 
throne  of  His  love,  in  order  to  dispense  the  unspeak- 
able benefits  which  it  is  in  His  power  to  grant. 

In  recent  times  Jesus  Christ  said  one  day  to  a faith- 
ful soul:  “ My  daughter,  for  many  centuries  I have 
made  My  abode  in  the  Eucharist.  I dwell  there  for 
the  sake  of  men,  and  I perceive  that  scarcely  any 
among  them  come  to  Me.”  Once  again:  “ Wherefore, 
My  daughter,  have  you  not  come  to  visit  Me  ? I have 
been  waiting  for  you.,,  This  is,  alas,  the  meaning  of 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  59 

those  words  of  Holy  Scripture:  ’ “ All  the  day  long  have 
I spread  My  hands  to  a people  that  believeth  not  and 
contradicteth  Me.”  1 

Let  us  endeavor  to  prevent  this  sorrowful  complaint 
of  the  Saviour  by  frequently  visiting  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament.  Our  visits  to  Jesus  in  the  tabernacle  will 
conduce  not  only  to  His  glory  but  also  to  our  own  tem- 
poral and  eternal  happiness. 


Chapter  9 

{Tbe  poverty  of  tbe  Dweller  In  tbe  tabernacle 

*3^RULY  charitable  persons  are  accustomed  to  visit 
the  poor,  prisoners,  and  those  who  are  in  afflic- 
tion. Our  Lord,  as  much  as  any  one  of  these,  can  claim 
the  visits  of  all  good  Christians.  Both  during  His 
mortal  life  and  during  His  Eucharistic  life,  Jesus  willed 
to  surpass  all  in  poverty.  Let  us  hear  what  Father 
Eymard  says  on  this  subject: 

“ Our  Lord  willed  to  be  the  poorest  of  the  poor,  in 
order  that  He  might  hold  out  His  hand  to  the  most 
abject  and  say  to  him:  4 1 am  your  Brother.’  He  was 
born  in  a stable  among  the  lower  animals.  He  spent 
part  of  His  childhood  in  Egypt,  where  He  was  in  a state 
of  destitution.  He  lived  for  thirty  years  at  Nazareth 
in  the  practice  of  poverty.  It  is  enough  to  visit  the 
house  of  Loreto,  in  order  to  be  convinced  of  the  poverty 
of  the  Holy  Family. 

“ During  the  whole  course  of  His  life  Jesus  desired 
to  appear  poor.  He  regarded  Himself  as  if  He  were 
the  last  of  all.  He  kept  silence  and  listened  with 
humility  to  the  instructions  given  in  the  synagogue, 
never  allowing  His  marvelous  wisdom  and  knowledge 
to  become  apparent. 

“ In  all  that  He  did,  in  all  that  He  procured  for  Him- 
self, He  sought  everything  of  the  poorest.  Behold 
Him  during  His  evangelical  life:  He  kept  His  work- 

1 Tota  die  expandi  manus  meas  ad  populum  non  creden- 
tem  et  contradicentem.  — Rom.  x.  21. 


6o  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


man’s  garb ; He  did  not  alter  His  mode  of  life  — that 
of  a poor  man.  When  He  prayed,  He  knelt  on  the 
bare  ground;  His  food  was  that  of  a poor  man.  He 
lived  on  alms;  He  traveled  like  a poor  man;  He  en- 
dured hunger  and  thirst,  as  do  the  poor.  His  poverty 
caused  Him  to  be  despised  by  the  rich  and  the  great 
who  contemptuously  termed  Him  4 the  Carpenters 
Son!  ’ 1 Notwithstanding  this,  Jesus  did  not  hesitate 
to  say  to  them:  4 Vae  vobis  divitibus !’  4 Woe  to  you 

that  are  rich.’ 

44  He  died  forsaken  by  His  followers,  stripped  of  His 
garments;  He  was  buried  in  a borrowed  shroud  and 
laid  in  a tomb  which  was  offered  as  an  act  of  charity. 

44  Finally,  His  love  of  abjection  induces  Him  to  con- 
ceal in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  both  the  glory  of 
His  divinity  and  the  splendor  of  His  glorified  humanity. 

44  His  Eucharistic  life  is  yet  poorer,  in  a certain 
sense,  than  was  His  mortal  life.  His  abode  is  a humble 
church,  worse  sometimes  even  than  the  stable  of  Beth- 
lehem, the  tabernacle  consisting  perhaps  of  boards  of 
common  wood,  roughly  put  together! 

44  Everything  necessary  for  the  Holy  Sacrifice  has  to 
be  given  Him  as  an  alms  by  His  priests  or  by  the  faith- 
ful — the  bread  and  wine,  the  linen  which  is  to  receive 
or  cover  Him,  the  corporals  and  altar-cloths.  He 
brings  nothing  down  from  heaven  except  His  adorable 
person  and  His  love.” 

Offer  to  Jesus,  dwelling  in  the  sacred  Host,  vessels 
of  gold  and  silver;  exhaust  all  the  resources  of  art  in 
order  to  carve  the  most  elaborate  tabernacles;  line 
them,  make  curtains  for  them  of  the  richest  and  rarest 
materials  — what  is  all  this  in  His  presence  ? 

The  poor  are  defenseless ; Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  is  abandoned  to  the  mercy  of  His  enemies! 
The  poor  have  few  friends,  or  none  at  all;  where  are 
the  friends  of  Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host?  For  the 
majority  of  mankind  He  is  a stranger,  one  unknown. 
When  Jesus  was  in  the  house  of  Simon  the  leper,  and 
was  at  meat,  there  came  to  Him  a woman  having  an 
1 Filius  fabri.  — Matt.  xiii.  55. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  61 


alabaster  box  of  ointment  of  precious  spikenard,  and 
she  poured  it  on  His  head.  His  disciples  seeing  it,  had 
indignation,  saying:  “ To  what  purpose  is  this  waste  ? 
For  this  ointment  might  have  been  sold  for  much  and 
given  to  the  poor.”  But  Jesus  answered  them:  “ Why 
trouble  ye  this  woman,  for  she  hath  wrought  a good 
work  upon  Me  ? Amen,  I say  to  you,  wheresoever  this 
Gospel  shall  be  preached  in  the  whole  world,  that  also 
which  she  hath  done  shall  be  told  for  a memory  of  her.” 

In  our  own  day  the  world  imitates  the  apostles  in  their 
ill-timed  fault-finding  by  criticizing  or  even  blaming 
persons  who  make  it  their  duty  to  visit  Him  Who 
dwells  in  the  tabernacle  in  poverty,  or  who  make 
generous  sacrifices  in  order  to  beautify  the  churches 
where  He  dwells.  “ Ut  quid  perditio  haec?”  Why 
waste  your  time  at  the  foot  of  the  altars  ? Wherefore 
should  there  be  so  much  splendor  in  the  churches 
where  He  abides  Who  was  born  in  a stable  at  Bethle- 
hem ? 

Be  as  indifferent,  Christian  souls,  to  the  criticisms 
of  worldlings  as  Mary  Magdalen  was  to  the  remarks 
made  about  her  by  the  apostles.  Continue  to  visit 
Jesus  in  the  tabernacle,  and  redouble  your  zeal  for  the 
adornment  of  His  altars. 

Experience  has  long  proved  that  the  persons  who  are 
most  assiduous  in  visiting  the  poor  and  most  anxious 
to  help  them,  are  also  most  frequent  in  their  visits  to 
Our  Lord  in  the  tabernacle,  and  most  generous  in  their 
efforts  to  promote  the  beauty  of  His  house.  To  all 
those  who  decry  the  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, we  would  say:  “ Do  you  give  a thought  to  those 
who  are  in  want  during  your  worldly  visits,  your  frivo- 
lous conversations  ? What  do  you  do  for  the  poor  of 
Jesus  Christ?  Do  you  retrench  anything  of  the  luxury 
of  your  surroundings,  of  your  indulgence  in  the  pleas- 
ures of  the  table?  Never,  O souls  of  little  faith,  do 
you  visit  Jesus  Christ  and  His  poor  or  show  any 
honor  to  them!  ” 

There  are  occasions  when  it  becomes  necessary  to 
sell  even  the  sacred  vessels.  Saints  have  so  done,  but 


62  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


generally  it  is  right  and  desirable  to  employ  one’s  riches 
to  honor  Jesus  Christ  by  adorning  His  altars. 

Once  more  we  admonish  you,  Christian  soul,  not  to 
be  intimidated  by  the  vain  judgment  of  men.  Listen 
to  your  Saviour  when  He  replies  to  those  who  condemn 
you:  “Wherefore  trouble  ye  this  soul?  By  visiting 
Me,  by  making  sacrifices  in  order  to  maintain  the 
beauty  of  the  churches  where  I dwell,  she  is  doing  a 
good  work!  ” 

It  is  true  that  all  which  you  do  for  the  glory  of  Jesus 
Christ  abiding  in  the  sacred  Host  will  not  be  told 
throughout  the  whole  world,  as  was  the  act  of  Mary 
Magdalen.  But  your  reward  will  surpass  hers.  Listen 
to  the  words  which  will  be  uttered  by  the  Son  of  God 
on  the  day  of  the  final  judgment : “ Come,  ye  blessed 
of  My  Father;  I was  hungry  and  you  gave  Me  to  eat; 
I was  thirsty  and  you  gave  Me  to  drink;  I was  naked 
and  you  covered  Me.”  In  their  literal  meaning  these 
words  are  doubtless  applicable  to  the  care  we  take  of 
the  poor;  but  is  not  our  most  lovable  Saviour,  as  He 
dwells  in  the  Eucharist,  the  first  among  the  poor  whom 
we  ought  to  visit  and  assist?  Christian  soul,  what 
more  can  be  necessary  to  stimulate  your  zeal  in  order 
that  you  may  visit  Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament, 
and  second  the  zeal  of  your  pastor  in  his  love  for  the 
beauty  of  the  house  of  God  ? 


Chapter  10 


Gbe  prisoner  of  Xove 


T the  time  when  the  Vandals  were  devastating 


the  Campagna  and  carrying  the  greater  part  of 
the  inhabitants  into  captivity,  St.  Paulinus,  bishop  of 
Nola,  sacrificed  all  that  he  possessed  in  order  to  relieve 
the  poor  and  the  captives.  When  he  had  nothing  left, 
a poor  widow,  whose  only  son  had  been  taken  into 
slavery,  came  to  him;  with  tears  she  implored  him  to 
furnish  her  with  means  for  her  son’s  ransom.  The 
holy  bishop  having  nothing  at  all  left,  offered  to  become 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  63 

a slave  himself,  and  thus  deliver  the  son  of  this  afflicted 
mother.  She  gladly  accepted  the  offer.  St.  Paulinus 
set  off  for  Africa,  and  became  a slave  in  the  place  of 
the  young  man  whom  he  wished  to  restore  to  his 
mother. 

We  are  told  that  St.  Peter  Paschal,  having  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  Mohammedans,  was  loaded  with 
chains  and  cast  into  prison.  The  Christians  of  Spain 
sent  him  a considerable  sum  of  money  in  order  to  pay 
for  his  ransom.  But  with  unprecedented  charity,  the 
saint,  instead  of  employing  the  money  to  procure  his 
own  liberty,  spent  it  in  delivering  some  mothers  of 
families,  together  with  their  children.  Our  Lord  de- 
layed not  to  prove  to  His  servant  how  pleasing  his 
charity  was  to  Him.  He  appeared  to  him  under  the 
form  of  a child,  four  or  five  years  old,  dressed  as  a 
slave,  in  order  to  serve  his  Mass.  When  the  holy 
bishop  had  finished  his  thanksgiving,  imagining  that  he 
had  before  him  an  ordinary  child,  he  asked  him  a few 
questions  out  of  the  catechism.  He  replied  with  sur- 
prising modesty  and  intelligence.  But  when  asked 
who  Jesus  Christ  was,  the  child  revealed  his  identity 
and  said:  “ Peter,  I am  Jesus  Christ  and  none  other, 
behold  My  hands  and  My  side,  thou  wilt  see  there  the 
marks  of  My  wounds.  Since  thou  hast  remained  a 
prisoner  in  order  to  restore  liberty  to  My  servants, 
thou  hast  made  Myself  thy  prisoner.’ * Having  thus 
spoken,  he  vanished  out  of  sight. 

How  beautiful,  how  admirable  is  the  charity  of  these 
eminent  saints!  To  take  the  place  of  their  brethren 
who  are  in  chains,  to  pay  their  ransom,  to  set  them  at 
liberty,  and  remain  themselves  in  slavery! 

Yet  this  is  but  a faint  and  feeble  figure  of  the  charity 
shown  to  us  by  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Holy  Eucharist. 
This  divine  Saviour  loves  our  souls  so  intensely  that 
He  constitutes  Himself  a Prisoner  of  Love  for  our  sakes 
during  the  whole  of  our  earthly  pilgrimage. 

Behold  how  submissive  is  this  divine  Prisoner,  how 
He  remains  in  the  place  assigned  to  Him  by  the  priest. 
At  the  solemn  moment  of  the  consecration  the  priest 


64  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

calls  Him  down:  “This  is  My  body.  This  is  My 
blood.”  Immediately  Jesus  is  present.  He  is  there 
in  the  hands  of  His  minister.  He  can  give  Him  to  the 
faithful  who  present  themselves  at  the  holy  table, 
carry  Him  to  the  sick,  expose  Him  in  order  that  Chris- 
tians may  adore  Him.  He  places  Him  in  the  taber- 
nacle and  locks  the  door.,  almost  as  if  He  were  a 
criminal! 

What,  O Christians,  does  this  Prisoner  of  Love  de- 
sire ? He  desires  to  find  hearts  which  will  return  Him 
love  for  love,  hearts  which  will  compensate  to  Him  for 
the  indifference  of  so  many  professing  Christians.  He 
desires  what  every  prisoner  desires,  He  desires  to  be 
visited. 

Jesus  is  a Captive  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  not 
that  He  suffers  there  like  an  ordinary  prisoner  who  is 
confined  in  a gloomy  dungeon;  but  the  captivity  of 
Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host  is  a captivity  of  love.  He  is 
there,  full  of  holy,  eager,  loving  longing  for  our  souls; 
He  waits  for  them,  He  calls  them,  and  they  go  away, 
scarcely  even  condescending  to  honor  Him  with  a 
passing  thought.  O ingratitude,  O perversity  of  the 
heart  of  man!  We  lavish  our  affections  upon  unworthy 
creatures  and  we  refuse  to  love  our  God! 

Think,  Christian  soul,  of  Jesus  a Prisoner  of  love  in 
the  Eucharist,  and  do  not  be  content  with  thinking  of 
Him ; pay  Him  frequent  visits.  Did  you  but  know  how 
the  briefest  visit  pleases  Our  Lord,  how  acceptable  it 
is  to  Him,  you  would  surely  hasten  to  suppress  the 
useless  visits  which  you  pay,  in  order  to  increase  the 
number  of  your  visits  to  Jesus  in  the  Eucharist!  Surely 
you  would  take  a portion  of  the  time  which  you  waste 
day  by  day,  in  order  to  devote  it  to  visiting  the  Prisoner 
in  the  tabernacle! 

Then  a few  words  of  the  Gospel  which  may  be  quoted 
in  this  place,  as  they  form  a sequel  to  those  which  we 
introduced  into  the  preceding  chapter:  “ I was  in 
prison,  and  you  came  to  Me.”  1 If  Jesus  Christ  has 
promised  to  address  these  words  at  the  end  of  the 

1 In  carcere  eram  et  venistis  ad  me.  — Matt.  xxvi.  36. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  65 

world  to  him  who  has  visited  unfortunate  criminals  in 
their  prison,  what  will  He  not  say  to  him  who  has 
been  diligent  in  visiting  Him  Himself  in  His  Eucha- 
ristic prison  ? 

Come,  then,  Christian  soul,  come  and  visit  your  God, 
Who  is  a prisoner,  come  and  console  Him  for  the  for- 
getfulness and  neglect  of  so  many  souls.  Come,  be- 
loved of  His  heart,  and  receive  the  reward  which  He 
has  prepared  for  you  in  return  for  your  love  for  Him  in 
the  Eucharist. 


Chapter  tl 

Gbe  ITn&lfference,  Ifngratitu&e,  Contempt,  and 
tTreacbecg  wftb  tlHIblcb  5esu0  /Ibeets  in  tbe 
flbost  JBlesseb  Sacrament 

ONE  day  Our  Lord,  appearing  to  the  Blessed  Mar- 
garet Mary,  said  to  her:  “ In  this  mystery  (of  the 
Most  Blessed  Sacrament)  My  heart  can  complain,  as 
it  did  upon  the  cross,  that  it  is  exposed  to  grief  and 
contempt  without  any  consolation.  In  this  state  of 
abandonment  I seek  some  consolation  from  thee  and 
a small  number  of  faithful  souls.  I expect  that  thou, 
together  with  them,  shouldst  make  reparation  by  the 
homage  you  offer  me  for  the  insults  I have  to  endure.” 

Upon  another  occasion  He  showed  His  Heart  to  her 
and  said:  “ Behold  this  Heart,  which  so  loved  men  as 
to  be  exhausted  and  consumed  in  order  to  prove  its 
love.  And  instead  of  gratitude,  the  larger  number 
show  Me  nothing  but  ingratitude  by  their  want  of 
reverence,  their  sacrileges,  the  coldness  and  contempt 
they  evince  for  Me  in  this  Sacrament  of  love.”  Thus 
Jesus  is  grieved  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  by  the  in- 
difference of  some,  the  ingratitude  of  others,  the  con- 
tempt of  some,  the  base  treachery  of  others!  The 
divine  Redeemer  ought  to  be  surrounded  by  faithful 
servants,  who  would  prove  their  love  for  Him  by  their 
zeal  in  visiting  Him,  and  thus  make  reparation  for  the 
infidelities  of  so  many  nominal  Christians. 


66  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


A large  number  of  the  faithful  show  themselves  to 
be  completely  indifferent  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Eucha- 
rist. They  scarcely  know  what  the  August  Sacrament 
of  the  Altar  really  is,  and  they  have  not  the  slightest 
wish  to  know.  When  the  ministers  of  Christ  speak  to 
them  on  this  subject  they  lend  an  inattentive  ear,  and 
they  speedily  forget  all  they  have  heard.  Worldly  pre- 
occupations entirely  engross  them;  they  have  no  time 
to  think  about  Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  they 
neglect  Him,  they  abandon  Him  in  His  tabernacles! 

Others,  again,  show  themselves  to  be  ungrateful  to 
Jesus  Christ  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  They  know 
their  duty  but  they  do  not  fulfil  it.  They  scarcely  thank 
Our  Lord  when  He  gives  Himself  to  them  in  holy  com- 
munion. They  have  time  for  useless  visits,  for  parties 
of  pleasure,  for  enjoying  themselves  in  every  possible 
way,  but  they  can  not  spare  a few  moments  in  which 
to  visit  Jesus  in  the  tabernacle!  Sometimes  they  live 
in  splendid  palaces,  while  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  dwells 
in  a humble  church  which  threatens  to  become  a mere 
ruin.  One  often  hears  the  ga^  votaries  of  the  world, 
who  are  in  want  of  nothing,  exclaim  at  the  useless  ex- 
pense incurred  in  decorating  Catholic  churches. 

In  addition  to  those  who  are  indifferent  and  those 
who  are  ungrateful  in  regard  to  Jesus  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist,  there  are  those  who  despise  Him. 

Our  sacred  mysteries  are  made  the  object  of  mockery, 
the  souls  who  have  preserved  their  love  for  Jesus  in 
the  Host  are  ridiculed.  Who  has  not  heard  the  remark, 
repeated  over  and  over  again,  that  “ persons  who  visit 
the  Blessed  Sacrament  and  go  frequently  to  com- 
munion are  no  better  than  others  ! ” 

Finally,  there  are  those  who  betray  Our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  they  are  numerous  in  the  present  day. 
How  many  Christians  are  to  be  found  who  were 
formerly  faithful  to  the  God  of  the  tabernacle,  but 
have  now  basely  abandoned  Him.  Formerly  they  at 
least  made  their  Easter  communion,  they  went  regu- 
larly to  Mass  on  Sunday,  and  sometimes  paid  a visit 
to  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  Now  they  have  denied 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  67 

Jesus  Christ  and  left  the  Church,  in  order  not  to  dis- 
please the  world,  to  keep  or  gain  a position  in  society; 
they  are  ashamed  to  be  known  as  Christians,  and  finally 
apostatize!  The  divine  Redeemer  has  indeed  good 
reason  to  complain,  and  to  say  of  us  by  the  mouth  of 
David:  For  if  Mine  enemy  had  reviled  Me,  I would 

verily  have  borne  with  it  ’ 1 ; but  to  be  despised,  aban- 
doned by  My  friends,  by  My  children,  by  those  whom  I 
love!  ” “ How,  O my  Saviour,  canst  Thou  bear  such 

ingratitude?  Thou  dost  condescend  to  remain  in  our 
midst,  and  too  often  we  fail  to  provide  for  Thee  a suit- 
able abode!  It  would  be  but  a small  matter,  O Jesus, 
if,  though  material  edifices  were  destitute  of  beauty, 
Thou  didst  receive  an  eager  welcome  in  our  hearts. 
But  no,  Thou  dost  abide  in  Thy  sanctuary  by  day  and 
by  night,  calling  men,  waiting  for  them,  while  they 
allow  days  and  nights,  nay,  sometimes  even  whole 
weeks,  to  pass  without  visiting  Thee ; or  if  they  do  pay 
Thee  an  occasional  visit,  they  are  present  only  in  body, 
their  heart  is  elsewhere.  O God  of  love,  Thou  dost 
continually  think  of  them,  and,  even  when  in  Thy 
presence,  they  do  not  adore  Thee  aright.,,  2 

Is  there,  then,  no  one  to  bind  up  the  wounds  with 
which  the  heart  of  Jesus  is  pierced?  Is  the  divine 
Prisoner  of  the  tabernacle  to  lament  for  ever  in  vain  ? 
We  will  reply  to  His  call;  He  is  waiting  for  us  to  visit 
Him;  let  us  hasten  to  make  Him  forget  the  pain  which 
the  indifference  of  others  causes  Him  to  feel.  Our 
gratitude  to  Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host  will  compensate 
to  Him  for  the  ingratitude  of  so  many  souls  who  alto- 
gether neglect  to  return  thanks  to  Him.  Our  rever- 
ence for  everything  closely  connected  with  the  Most 
Blessed  Sacrament  will  furnish  an  answer  to  the  out- 
rages of  those  who  despise  Him.  Finally,  our  diligence 
in  seeking  occasions  to  converse  with  Jesus  in  the 
Eucharist,  our  frequent  presence  at  the  Holy  Table, 
will  constitute  a public  protest  against  the  conduct  of 
the  unhappy  persons  who,  in  the  present  day,  have 
basely  betrayed  Jesus  Christ. 

1 Ps.  liv.  13.  2 Month  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  p.  152. 


68  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


Some  months  before  a famous  general,  the  Baron 
de  Geramb,  entered  the  novitiate  of  the  Trappist 
Fathers,  while  he  was  still  wearing  his  splendid  uni- 
form, he  met,  in  one  of  the  principal  streets  of  Lyons, 
a priest  who  was  taking  the  Viaticum  to  a sick  person. 
Scarcely  had  he  become  aware  of  this  fact,  than  he  fell 
on  his  knees  and  adored  Our  Lord  with  deep  feeling. 
When  the  priest  came  nearer  to  him,  he  was  shocked 
to  see  that  the  two  choir-boys  who  were  carrying  the 
canopy  above  the  priest  were  quarreling,  threatening, 
and  elbowing  each  other.  At  this  sight  the  pious  baron 
rose  from  his  knees,  stepped  promptly  up  to  the  canopy, 
dismissed  the  boy  who  seemed  to  be  the  worse  of  the 
two  and  took  the  pole  from  his  hand.  When  the  priest 
turned  round  he  perceived  to  his  astonishment  that  the 
general  had  taken  the  place  of  the  choir-boy.  Great 
was  the  admiration  of  the  crowd  which  had  collected 
and  was  following  the  solemn  procession.  The  Baron 
de  Geramb,  wno  had  given  proof  of  so  great  a devotion 
to  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  was  obliged  to  walk  a very 
long  way,  as  the  priest  had  to  give  the  Last  Sacraments 
to  two  sick  persons  who  were  living  at  a great  distance 
from  each  other.  After  he  had  accompanied  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  and  returned  to  the  church,  the 
priest  thanked  him  in  the  warmest  terms;  the  brave 
and  pious  general  was,  however,  much  surprised  on 
hearing  himself  thus  addressed,  for  he  thought  that  he 
had  merely  done  what  his  duty  as  a good  Christian 
required  of  him. 


Chapter  12 

Sesus  fn  tbc  jflBost  JBlesseb  Sacrament  As  tbe 
2tf>vocate  of  fTboae  TWlbo  IDIaft  Iblm 


V A r'E  ought  to  visit  Our  Lord  in  the  Eucharist  be- 
cause  He  is  poor,  because  He  has  made  Him- 
self a prisoner,  because  He  is  grieved  by  the  indiffer- 
ence, ingratitude,  contempt,  and  treachery  of  so  many 
professing  Christians. 

Let  us  now  consider  some  further  motives  which 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  69 

may  induce  us  to  visit  Jesus  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacra- 
ment; they  are  connected  with  the  welfare  of  our  own 
soul.  The  soul  is  only  too  liable  to  be  deceived  in 
regard  to  the  matter  of  salvation;  it  has  to  contend 
with  foes  as  numerous  as  they  are  crafty ; therefore  it 
needs  an  advocate  to  defend  it.  It  is  very  weak,  alas, 
and  inclined  to  evil  ; it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  it 
should  have  a charitable  physician  to  bind  up  its 
wounds  and  heal  it;  it  is  ofttimes  sad  and  forlorn,  it 
needs  a friend  in  whom  it  may  confide  and  into  whose 
ear  it  may  pour  the  tale  of  its  sorrows. 

Christian  soul,  if  you  love  to  visit  Jesus  frequently 
in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  He  will  be  to  you  a zealous 
Advocate,  a charitable  Physician,  the  best  of  comforters 
and  friends. 

St.  Paul  terms  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  Our  Advocate . 
St.  John  likewise  tells  us:  “ My  little  children,  these 
things  I write  unto  you  that  you  may  not  sin.  But  if 
any  man  sin,  we  have  an  Advocate  with  the  Father, 
Jesus  Christ  the  just.1  This  Advocate  is  in  heaven 
with  His  Father,  constantly  pleading  for  our  salvation. 
He  offers  to  Him  the  merits  of  His  passion  and  death, 
He  shows  Him  the  bright  marks  of  His  wounds,  marks 
which  He  retained  after  His  resurrection,  as  the 
Fathers  of  the  Church  tell  us,  in  order  that  He  might 
constantly  show  them  to  His  Father,  and  by  means  of 
them  ask  for  pardon  and  mercy  for  us. 

But  though  Jesus  Christ  has  ascended  to  heaven, 
He  has  remained  upon  earth  with  us  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist,  and  if  the  great  Apostle  tells  us  that  Jesus 
Christ,  in  His  glory,  “ is  always  living  to  make  inter- 
cession for  us,”  2 may  we  not  also  say  that  He  fulfils 
the  same  office  in  His  Eucharistic  life  ? Yes,  indeed, 
Tesus  is  our  Advocate,  our  Defender  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament,  and  He  exercises  this  ministry,  first  by 
praying  and  immolating  Himself  for  us,  and  also  by 
giving  good  inspirations  and  wise  counsels  to  those  who 
visit  Him. 

1 Advocatum  habemus  apud  Patrem.  — 1 Joan.  ii.  1. 

2 Semper  vivens,  ad  interpellandum  pro  nobis. j — Heb.  vii.  25* 


70  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

The  doors  of  magistrates  and  lawyers  are  besieged 
at  all  hours  by  a crowd  of  clients.  Has  Our  Lord  ap- 
pointed times  in  which  to  receive  us  ? Does  the  angel 
of  the  sanctuary,  like  those  who  keep  the  doors  of  the 
palace,  ever  refuse  us  access  to  our  divine  Master? 
No,  there  is  nothing  of  this  kind.  In  the  mysterious 
abode  of  the  tabernacle  Jesus  is  ever  present,  ever 
ready  to  hear  us.  Betake  yourself,  therefore,  pious 
sojI,  to  this  heavenly  Advocate,  and  consult  Him  as  to 
the  momentous  affair  of  your  salvation. 

Your  soul  is  perhaps  distracted  by  the  tumult  of  this 
world’s  business;  you  occupy  yourself  about  every- 
thing except  your  eternal  future.  Listen  to  what  the 
gracious  Master  says  to  you:  “ Seek  ye  first  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  His  justice,  and  all  these  things  shall 
be  added  unto  you.  Martha,  Martha,  thou  art  careful 
and  troubled  about  many  things.  But  one  thing  is 
necessary.  What  doth  it  profit  a man  if  he  gain  the 
whole  world,  and  suffer  the  loss  of  his  own  soul?  ” 

Your  soul  is  perhaps  sorely  tempted,  your  passions 
and  the  devil  urge  you  to  evil.  Draw  near  to  Jesus  in 
the  sacred  Host.  With  one  word  He  will  silence  your 
evil  passions  and  put  your  enemy  to  flight:  “ It  is  I,  be 
not  afraid.  O thou  of  little  faith,  wherefore  didst  thou 
doubt?  Watch  ye  and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into 
temptation.  The  spirit  indeed  is  willing,  but  the  flesh 
is  weak.” 

An  unhappy  young  girl  who  was  possessed  by  the 
devil  was  told  by  her  confessor  to  say  three  Paters  in 
the  presence  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  She  obeyed, 
and  the  evil  spirit  immediately  took  to  flight,  saying: 
“ A curse  upon  him  who  told  you  to  do  that!  ” 

Therefore,  if  you  are  a great  sinner,  come  and  con- 
sult the  Advocate  of  the  tabernacle.  Imitate  the  sinful 
woman  in  the  Gospel,  betake  yourself  at  once  to  Our 
Lord,  cast  yourself  at  His  feet,  wash  them  with  your 
tears,  confess  your  sin,  implore  pardon;  if  your  repent- 
ance is  sincere  He  will  say  to  you  as  He  did  to  Mag- 
dalen: “ Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee.”  1 Go,  show  thy- 
1 Remittuntur  tibi  peccata  tua.  — Luc.  vii.  48. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  71 

self  to  the  priest;  that  is  to  say,  go  and  confess  your 
fault  as  speedily  as  possible. 

Christian  souls,  whom  could  you  better  consult  con- 
cerning the  affairs  of  your  soul  than  the  God  of  the 
Eucharist  ? He  knows  all  your  miseries,  and  earnestly 
desires  to  relieve  them.  Is  He  not  all-powerful  with 
His  Father  ? What  more  is  wanting  to  determine  you 
to  place  in  the  hands  of  the  Saviour  the  momentous 
concern  of  your  salvation  ? 

Wherefore,  frequently  visit  the  Advocate  of  the 
tabernacle ; you  are  sure  to  receive  a gracious  welcome. 
After  having  listened  to  our  petitions,  He  will  always 
dismiss  us  with  these  consoling  words:  “ It  is  I,  be 
not  afraid,  for  I will  remember  you  in  your  dangers! 
Be  not  afraid,  I will  take  in  hand  the  affair  of  your 
salvation!  Be  not  afraid,  for  in  return  for  the  pious 
visits  you  have  paid  Me  in  the  Sacrament  of  my  love,  I 
will  be  your  certain  refuge  in  the  hour  of  your  death.” 


Chapter  13 

3-eaua  In  tbe  /Iboat  JSleaaeb  Sacrament  fa  a 
Charitable  IPb^aician  for  tbe  Soula  Timbo  IDiait 
Ibim 

‘T’N  every  one  of  us  there  lurks  a tendency  to  evil 
JU  which  is  called  concupiscence.  It  proceeds  from 
original  sin;  and  Baptism,  though  it  gives  us  a new 
life  and  a new  spirit,  does  not  deliver  us  from  this 
cruel  and  terrible  malady. 

The  apostle  St.  John  exclaims,  addressing  himself 
to  every  one  without  exception:  “ Love  not  the  world, 
nor  the  things  which  are  in  the  world.  For  all  that  is 
in  the  world  is  the  concupiscence  of  the  flesh,  and  the 
concupiscence  of  the  eyes,  and  the  pride  of  life.”  1 
Here  we  have  the  three  sources  of  all  our  temptations 
and  of  all  our  sins.  By  the  concupiscence  of  the  flesh, 
the  inordinate  love  of  all  that  flatters  the  senses  is 
understood;  by  the  concupiscence  of  the  eyes,  the  in- 
1 i John  ii.  15,  16. 


72  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

ordinate  love  of  riches  is  implied;  by  the  pride  of  life, 
the  inordinate  love  of  honors  and  distinction  is  signified. 
These  are  the  three  maladies  of  our  miserable  human 
nature,  with  which  we  have  to  contend  all  our  life 
long. 

The  Son  of  God  took  compassion  on  our  poor  hu- 
manity; He  came  down  from  heaven;  He  died  upon 
the  cross  in  order  to  cure  us  of  our  infirmities.  Isaias 
foretold  Him  in  these  words:  “ Surely  He  hath  borne 
our  infirmities  and  carried  our  sorrows  . . . and  by 
His  bruises  we  are  healed.”  1 St.  Peter  likewise  re- 
minds the  first  Christians  of  this  truth:  “ By  Whose 
stripes  you  were  healed.”  2 

Thus  Jesus  Christ  is  the  charitable  Physician  Who 
came  to  pour  oil  and  wine  into  our  wounds.  “ Where 
sin  abounded,”  the  Apostle  tells  us,  “ grace  did  more 
abound  ” ; and  this  grace  is  given  us  by  means  of  prayer 
and  the  sacraments.  But  the  sacrament  of  the  Eucha- 
rist is  the  sacrament  which  most  forcibly  recalls  to  our 
mind  the  passion  and  death  of  Jesus  Christ. 

“ O thou  memorial  of  Our  Lord’s  own  dying! 

O living  bread,  to  mortals  life  supplying!  ” 

“ O God,  Who  under  a wonderful  sacrament  hast  left 
Us  a memorial  of  Thy  passion,  grant  us,  we  beseech 
Thee,  so  to  venerate  the  sacred  mysteries  of  Thy  body 
and  blood,  that  we  may  ever  feel  within  us  the  fruit  of 
Thy  redemption.” 

The  Eucharist  is  a remedy  for  the  diseases  of  our 
soul,  not  only  when  we  receive  it  in  holy  communion, 
but  also  when  we  adore  it;  the  Church  clearly  points 
this  out  to  us  in  the  words  we  have  just  quoted. 

Persons  afflicted  with  any  disease  often  take  long 
journeys  in  order  to  consult  a physician,  and  if  a famous 
medical  practitioner  passes  through  a town,  people 
flock  from  all  parts  in  order  to  acquaint  him  with  their 
symptoms,  in  the  hope  that  he  will  be  able  to  prescribe 
a remedy.  We  are  far  from  blaming  the  conduct  of 
those  who  act  in  this  manner;  but  what  we  observe 

1 Livore  ejus  sanati  sumus.  — Is.  liii.  5. 

2 Cujus  livore  sanati  estis.  — 1 Pet.  ii.  25. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  73 

with  regret  is  that  equal  zeal  is  not  shown  in  endeavor- 
ing to  cure  the  maladies  of  the  soul  as  is  manifested  in 
regard  to  those  of  the  body.  We  have  always  at  hand 
two  spiritual  physicians;  one  visible,  the  other  in- 
visible; besides  the  priest,  who  heals  the  wounds  of 
our  soul  in  the  tribunal  of  penance,  we  have  Our  Lord 
in  the  Holy  Eucharist.  He  is  the  invisible  Physician 
in  Whose  presence  we  shall  find  a cure  for  all  our 
spiritual  infirmities. 

Every  one  knows  the  proverb:  “ Tell  me  what  com- 
pany you  keep,  and  I will  tell  you  what  you  are.”  That 
which  is  true  in  regard  to  the  persons  with  whom  we 
hold  most  frequent  intercourse  is  still  more  so  in  re- 
gard to  those  who  have  the  happiness  of  frequently 
conversing  with  Our  Lord  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 
St.  Teresa  used  to  say  that  sin  and  the  spirit  of  prayer 
could  not  exist  simultaneously  in  the  soul.  We  will 
assert  in  our  turn  that  a soul  which  frequently  and  with 
due  recollection  visits  the  Blessed  Sacrament  can  not 
remain  for  any  length  of  time  in  a state  of  sin. 

“ Know,”  says  St;  Alphonsus  Liguori,  “that  you  will 
gain  more  in  a quarter  of  an  hour  of  prayer  before  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  than  in  all  the  other  spiritual  exer- 
cises of  the  day,  for  it  is  on  those  who  visit  Him  that 
Jesus  bestows  His  graces  in  more  abundant  measure.” 

“ I was  in  Rome,”  says  Cardinal  Manning,  when 
speaking  of  his  conversion  to  Catholicism.  “I  visited 
the  museums,  the  ruins,  the  churches,  etc.  One  morn- 
ing I entered  the  church  of  St.  Louis  of  France.  There, 
on  the  altar,  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  was  exposed 
for  Benediction,  a religious  service  which  I had  never 
witnessed  before. 

“Nothing  could  be  more  simple — there  was  in- 
cense, there  were  lighted  candles,  priests  in  cassock 
and  cotta,  some  of  the  faithful  on  their  knees  engaged 
in  silent  prayer.  What  a contrast  there  was  between 
this  and  the  solemn  pontifical  functions  at  St.  Peter’s, 
but  this  was  the  moment  which  God  chose  in  order  to 
speak  to  me.  I felt  that  my  soul  was  stirred  in  a strange 
and  mysterious  manner.  I perceived  a faint  ray  of 


74  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

light.  For  the  first  time  it  occurred  to  me  that  there 
might  be  some  truth  in  Catholicism.  My  conversion 
no  longer  appeared  to  be  an  impossibility.  I was  still 
far  from  being  converted,  but  God  had  called  me,  and 
I did  not  remain  deaf  to  His  voice.  I prayed,  I in- 
quired, I studied,  in  all  sincerity  of  heart.  The  light 
shone  more  brightly  day  by  day,  and  the  grace  of  God 
did  the  rest.” 

Come,  therefore,  Christian  souls,  and  visit  this 
gracious  Master,  this  charitable  Physician.  He  will 
heal  your  spiritual  infirmities,  whatever  they  may  be. 

To  souls  who  display  too  great  an  interest  in  the 
things  of  this  world,  He  will  say:  “ Be  not  solicitous, 
saying:  what  shall  we  eat  or  wherewith  shall  we  be 
clothed,  for  after  all  these  things  do  the  heathen  seek. 
Your  heavenly  Father  knoweth  that  you  have  need  of 
all  these  things.  Thou  fool,  this  night  do  they  re- 
quire thy  soul  of  thee:  whose  shall  those  things  be 
which  thou  hast  provided?  Lay  up  to  yourselves 
treasures  in  heaven.” 

To  self-indulgent  souls  He  will  thus  speak:  “ How 
straight  is  the  way  that  leadeth  to  life ; and  few  there 
be  that  find  it!  My  yoke  is  sweet  and  My  burden 
light.  Blessed  are  the  clean  of  heart,  for  they  shall  see 
God.” 

To  souls  who  are  full  of  pride  and  vanity  He  will 
say : “ Learn  of  Me,  because  I am  meek  and  humble 
of  heart,  and  you  shall  find  rest  to  your  souls.  Unless 
you  become  as  little  children  you  shall  not  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Every  one  that  exalteth  him- 
self shall  be  humbled,  and  he  that  humbleth  himself 
shall  be  exalted.  God  giveth  grace  to  the  humble.” 

If,  pious  Christians,  you  have  not  already  formed  the 
habit  of  visiting  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  endeavor  to 
acquire  it,  and  make  your  visits  with  great  devotion. 
During  the  moments  when  you  are  privileged  to  con- 
verse with  Our  Lord,  lay  before  Him  all  the  miseries 
of  your  soul.  You  may  be  sure  that  it  will  not  be  long 
before  you  reap  the  benefit  of  so  doing  by  the  progress 
you  make  in  sanctification. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  7s 

Chapter  14 

Sesus  in  tbc  Aost  JBlesseO  Sacrament  ITs  tbe 
JSest  ot  Comforters 

law  which  condemns  man  to  suffering  is  as 
Vi/  universal  as  that  which  condemns  him  to  death. 
This  law  admits  of  no  exception  in  regard  to  age,  rank, 
or  state  of  life.  We  must  all  suffer  and  weep.  This 
is  another  of  the  lamentable  consequences  of  original 
sin.  Grief  and  tears  are  the  heritage  of  humanity. 
But  when  a man  suffers,  when  he  is  bowed  down  by 
some  terrible  affliction,  he  needs  a skilful  hand  to 
dress  his  wounds,  a compassionate  friend  to  wipe  away 
his  tears. 

But  is  this  true  friend,  this  best  of  comforters, 
usually  to  be  found  among  our  fellow  creatures? 
Alas,  no,  it  is  enough  to  have  been  oneself  tried  by 
affliction  in  order  to  discover  that  the  greater  number 
of  those  who  have  been  our  friends  in  times  of  pros- 
perity, desert  us  in  seasons  of  adversity.  True  friends 
are  rare,  indeed,  and  small  is  the  number  of  really  com- 
passionate souls.  What,  moreover,  can  those  who  are 
most  sincerely  attached  to  us,  do  for  us?  At  best 
they  can  but  listen  to  the  sad  story  of  our  miseries, 
and  utter  some  trite  words  of  encouragement.  But 
will  not  the  ears  which  appear  to  listen  so  attentively 
to  the  melancholy  recital  of  your  sorrows  soon  become 
weary  of  hearing  your  complaints  ? And  will  not  the 
heart  which  seems  so  compassionate  ere  long  prove 
to  you  that  it  is  indifferent  and  insensible  to  your  woes  ? 

Believe  what  we  tell  you,  Christian  souls,  for  many 
times  in  our  life  have  we  experienced  the  truth  of  our 
words:  there  is  only  one  perfect  comforter,  only  one 
friend  on  earth  to  whom  we  can  tell  everything  and 
who  will  never  be  weary  of  listening  to  us:  it  is  Jesus 
in  the  sacred  tabernacle! 

The  pious  author  of  the  “ Imitation  ” has  good 
reason  to  say  to  us : “ Love  Him  and  keep  Him  for 
thy  Friend  Who,  when  all  go  away,  will  not  leave  thee 


76  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

nor  suffer  thee  to  perish  at  the  last.”  The  true,  the 
only,  the  faithful  Friend,  both  in  life  and  in  death,  is 
Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host!  How  many  souls  have 
found  in  His  presence  the  consolations  they  have 
sought  in  vain  from  creatures! 

It  is  well  to  weep  in  the  presence  of  Jesus  abiding  in 
the  tabernacle.  How  attentively  He  listens  to  the  tale 
of  our  miseries.  Well,  indeed,  does  He  know  how  to 
pour  the  balm  of  consolation  upon  souls  which  suffer, 
and  to  dry  the  tears  of  those  who  weep! 

The  Christian  whom  Jesus  has  comforted  and 
strengthened  no  longer  needs  the  futile  attempts  of 
men  to  cheer  him.  He  rises  up,  not  in  order  to  give 
way  to  despair,  or  perhaps  end  his  life  by  an  act  of 
cowardly  suicide,  as  do  the  unhappy  victims  of  the 
world,  but  in  order  to  take  up  his  cross  with  courage, 
and  carry  it  in  the  footsteps  of  his  divine  Master. 

Let  all  the  suffering  members  of  Jesus  Christ  ap- 
proach the  foot  of  the  altar,  the  poor,  the  afflicted, 
those  who  are  calumniated,  all,  in  fact,  who  weep.  We 
will  show  the  poor,  not  the  abundant  treasures  of  the 
rich,  but  the  treasure  of  the  tabernacle,  and  we  will 
say  to  them:  “ Go  and  visit  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament.  During  His  mortal  life  He  was  poor  like 
you.  He  worked  like  you,  He  earned  His  bread  like 
you.  Come  and  visit  Him,  He  will  teach  you  resigna- 
tion, He  will  tell  you  that  in  exchange  for  your  present 
privations,  if  you  bear  them  patiently,  He  has  heaven 
in  store  for  you!  ” 

To  persons  in  affliction,  to  those  who  are  weeping 
on  account  of  a son,  a husband,  a father,  who  has 
wandered  from  the  right  way,  we  will  also  say:  “ Go 
and  visit  the  perfect  Comforter,  pour  forth  in  His 
presence  your  sad  tale  of  sorrow ; weep  over  the  be- 
loved being  whose  irregular  life  causes  you  such  bitter 
grief.  A holy  bishop  told  St.  Monica,  when  she  was 
weeping  on  account  of  her  son  Augustine,  that  ‘ the 
child  of  so  many  tears  could  never  be  lost y : the  same 
thing  will  be  true  of  him  who  makes  your  tears  to  flow. 
Jesus  has  heard  your  sighs,  they  have  touched  His 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  77 

Sacred  Heart;  sooner  or  later,  He  will  effect  the  con- 
version of  him  on  whose  account  you  have  wept, 
suffered,  and  prayed.” 

To  all  those  who  are  the  victims  of  unjust  persecu- 
tion or  unkind  calumny,  we  would  repeat:  44  Go  and 
visit  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament.  He  alone 
will  know  how  to  understand  the  unkindness  with 
which  you  are  treated,  He  alone  knows  that  you  are 
innocent.  Draw  near  to  the  God  of  all  consolation, 
He  will  give  you  courage  to  endure  everything  for  love 
of  Him.  * The  disciple  is  not  above  the  master.  If 
they  have  persecuted  Me,  they  will  also  persecute  you. 
Blessed  are  they  that  suffer  persecution  for  justice* 
sake,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  When  men 
shall  speak  all  that  is  evil  against  you  untruly  for  my 
sake,  be  glad  and  rejoice,  for  your  reward  is  very  great 
in  heaven.*  ’* 

We  would  say  to  all  mourners:  44  Go  and  visit  Jesus 
in  the  sacred  Host.  Death  has  snatched  away  your 
father,  your  mother,  or  perhaps  one  of  your  children. 
You  feel  the  void,  you  weep,  you  seek  in  vain  the  be- 
loved object  of  your  affection.  Who  can  understand 
your  grief  ? Who  can  comfort  you  ? Jesus,  and  Jesus 
only,  in  the  tabernacle.  Have  recourse  to  Him,  we 
beseech  you,  when  death  has  invaded  your  family 
circle.  He  is  the  resurrection  and  the  life.  4 He  that 
believeth  in  Me,*  He  will  say  to  you,  4 although  he  be 
dead,  shall  live.*  4 Resurget  frater  tuus .*  — 4 Thy 
brother  shall  rise  again,*  the  gracious  Master  said 
upon  one  occasion  to  the  sisters  of  Lazarus,  who  were 
weeping  for  the  loss  of  their  brother.  Christians,  he 
whom  you  mourn  will  likewise  rise  again : he  has  closed 
his  eyes  to  the  light  of  this  visible  world,  in  order  to 
open  them  on  the  brightness  of  a blissful  eternity : he 
is  only  gone  before  you  to  your  true  country.  Ere  long 
your  exile  will  be  ended,  and  you  will  meet  him  again 
in  heaven!  ** 

Finally,  we  would  say  to  all  Christians,  without  excep-  ' 
tion,  to  all  those  who  mingle  their  bread  with  weeping: 

44  Go  and  seek  consolation  where  it  can  be  found  — 


78  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

in  the  tabernacle.”  They  are  certain  to  find  it  if,  in  a 
spirit  of  faith,  they  visit  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Most 
Blessed  Sacrament. 

A Religious  who  is  at  the  head  of  an  orphanage  has 
communicated  to  us  the  following  fact: 

“ It  is,”  she  says,  “ an  understood  thing  with  the 
orphans  that  when  they  leave  the  industrial  school 
and  go  out  into  the  world,  their  first  visit,  when  they 
arrive  in  any  fresh  place,  shall  be  paid  to  Jesus  in  the 
Most  Blessed  Sacrament.  He  is  to  be  their  Confidant 
and  Friend,  to  Him  they  are  to  tell  their  troubles  and 
difficulties,  from  Him  they  are  to  seek  counsel,  in  the 
firm  belief  that  He  will  hear  and  answer  them. 

“ When  Clara  left  the  orphanage,  she  had  been 
thoroughly  taught  this  lesson,  and  was  fully  convinced 
of  its  truth.  She  obtained  a situation,  and  everything 
was  going  on  well,  when  she  fell  ill,  and  was  compelled 
to  ask  a relation  to  take  her  in.  She  spent  a few  days 
in  the  house,  but  could  not  remain  there,  as  she  found 
that  her  chastity  was  in  danger.  Remembering  the 
lessons  she  had  learned  at  school,  she  went  to  visit 
Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  and  told  Him  her 
trouble  in  all  simplicity.  She  at  once  felt  comforted, 
and  she  determined,  in  spite  of  her  weak  health,  not 
to  stay  where  she  was.  What  was  to  become  of  her? 
She  did  not  know,  yet  felt  no  anxiety ; in  fact,  she  was 
quite  light-hearted  when  she  left  the  church.  A few 
moments  later,  she  met  a former  benefactress,  who 
said  that  she  had  had  an  excellent  situation  in  view 
for  her  for  several  days  past,  but  did  not  know  where 
she  was  to  be  found.  The  young  girl  understood 
that  this  was  the  answer  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 
She  went  to  see  the  lady  in  question,  and  found  that 
the  situation  offered  her  was  suitable  in  every 
respect.”1 

Christian  soul,  what  a lesson  of  faith,  of  simplicity, 
of  confidence,  does  this  young  girl  teach  us!  When 
shall  we  believe  with  sincere  and  practical  faith  that 
Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  is  very  merciful 
1 The  Blessed  Sacrament,  1892. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  79 

and  gracious  and  that  He  desires  to  console  us. 
“ Come  unto  Me,  all  you  that  labor  and  are  burdened, 
and  I will  refresh  you.”  — Matt.  xi.  28. 


Chapter  15 

Zhc  IRigbt  Manner  In  Timbtcb  to  Make  a liMsft 
to  tbe  Moat  1bol£  Sacrament 

ONE  of  the  reasons,  or,  to  speak  more  correctly,  a 
pretext  which  is  put  forward  by  persons  desirous 
of  excusing  themselves  from  visiting  Our  Lord  in  the 
Most  Blessed  Sacrament,  is  that  they  do  not  know  the 
right  manner  in  which  to  make  this  visit.  They  too 
often  imagine  that  in  order  to  converse  with  Our  Lord 
in  the  Holy  Eucharist  it  is  necessary  to  be  well  versed 
in  spiritual  matters.  This  is  a mistaken  idea;  Jesus 
receives  all  who  present  themselves,  whether  they  are 
poor  or  rich,  ignorant  or  learned;  all  have  access  to 
Him,  no  one  is  excepted.  It  is  not  more  difficult  to 
visit  Him  in  the  Holy  Eucharist  than  to  visit  an  equal, 
or  a person  superior  to  oneself. 

On  addressing  the  person  whom  you  have  gone  to 
visit,  you  greet  him,  exchange  the  customary  civilities, 
and  then  proceed  to  explain  the  object  of  your  visit. 
When  everything  is  finished,  you  take  leave  and  re- 
turn home.  Act  in  the  same  manner  when  you  visit 
Our  Lord  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  Go  to  Him  just 
as  you  are ; it  is  not  necessary  to  use  a prayer-book  in 
order  to  converse  with  Him.  Our  Lord  prefers  that 
which  comes  from  your  own  heart  to  that  which  you 
read  out  of  books.  He  likes  you  to  express  the  feel- 
ings and  desires  of  your  soul. 

You  will  make  a very  good  visit  to  the  Most  Holy 
Sacrament  if  you  know  how  to  make  an  act  of  faith,  of 
adoration,  of  thanksgiving,  of  reparation,  of  petition  to 
Jesus  present  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

1.  An  act  of  faith.  It  is  very  suitable,  Christian 
soul,  if,  when  you  commence  your  visit,  you  make  an 
act  of  faith  in  the  real  presence.  When  you  are  deeply 


8o  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


impressed  with  the  thought  that  you  are  in  the  presence 
of  Jesus  Christ,  that  He  sees  and  hears  you,  you  will 
have  no  difficulty  in  keeping  up  your  attention.  Vary 
your  act  of  faith  according  to  the  ecclesiastical  season 
and  the  circumstances  in  which  you  are  placed.  Jesus 
in  the  Eucharist  is  the  same  as  Jesus  in  the  crib,  at 
Nazareth,  in  the  Cenacle,  on  Calvary,  Jesus  risen  and 
ascended  to  heaven.  According  to  the  varying  needs 
of  your  soul  see  in  Our  Lord  a Father,  a Brother,  a 
Friend,  a Spouse,  an  Advocate,  a Physician,  a Media- 
tor, a Comforter,  and  speak  familiarly  to  Him  about 
everything  which  concerns  you. 

2.  An  act  of  adoration . Adore  Our  Lord  present  in 
the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  by  a respectful  genuflection; 
then  kneel  down  and  offer  Him  your  whole  self.  All 
that  you  possess  is  the  gift  of  Jesus  Christ;  give 
thanks  to  Him  and  adore  Him  for  it,  and  declare  that 
you  desire  to  love  and  serve  Him  alone.  During  your 
act  of  adoration,  unite  yourself  to  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
to  the  holy  angels  who  hover  around  the  tabernacle, 
and  to  all  on  earth  who  are  occupied  in  adoring  the 
Holy  Eucharist. 

3.  An  act  of  thanksgiving.  Thank  the  Son  of  God 
for  having  become  incarnate  and  having  died  upon 
the  cross  for  our  salvation.  Thank  Him  above  all  for 
having  instituted  the  Sacrament  of  the  Eucharist. 
What  would  become  of  us  without  this  Sacrament  of 
love,  in  which  Jesus  becomes  the  Companion  of  our 
pilgrimage,  our  food,  and  the  victim  sacrificed  for  us! 
O Blessed  Eucharist,  heaven  is  indeed  beautiful;  but 
earth  is  not  wholly  sad  since  Thou  art  with  us.  Will 
men  never  understand  the  wondrous  love  of  Jesus 
Christ  ? Reflect,  Christian  soul,  on  the  gracious  man- 
ner in  which  Our  Lord  treats  you  during  the  brief 
period  you  spend  in  His  presence ; how  He  encourages 
you  in  your  difficulties,  and  comforts  you  in  your  afflic- 
tions! Thank  Him  for  having  so  frequently  given 
Himself  to  you  in  holy  communion.  Thunk  Him  on 
behalf  of  those  who  fail  to  do  so,  even  after  they  have 
received  Him.  Unite  your  act  of  thanksgiving  to  that 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  81 


of  the  blessed  Mother  of  God,  of  the  angels,  and  of  the 
saints  in  heaven. 

4.  An  act  of  contrition  and  reparation . During  your 
visit  to  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament,  entreat  Our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  to  pardon  all  your  sins.  After  receiving 
such  countless  benefits,  have  you  been  unfortunate 
enough  to  offend  Him?  Tell  Him  how  deeply  you 
regret  this.  Perhaps  you  have  shown  yourself  un- 
grateful to  Him  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament;  perhaps 
you  have  not  visited  Him  as  you  might  and  ought  to 
have  done,  or  perhaps  you  have  made  your  preparation 
for  communion  carelessly,  or  unduly  shortened  your 
thanksgiving?  You  may  have  absented  yourself  for 
a long  time  from  the  Holy  Table;  in  this  case  how 
have  you  grieved  Our  Lord!  Ask  pardon  also  for  so 
many  unhappy  sinners  who  are  constantly  offending 
God.  Ask  mercy  and  forgiveness  for  those  who  do 
not  care  about  religion,  for  those  also  who  insult  Jesus 
in  the  Eucharist.  Make  an  act  of  reparation  for  all 
the  acts  of  irreverence,  profanation,  and  sacrilege 
which  have  been  committed  against  Jesus  in  the  Sac- 
rament of  His  love. 

5.  An  act  of  petition.  Beseech  Our  Lord  to  grant 
you  the  graces  which  are  necessary  for  your  sanctifica- 
tion and  salvation  — a lively  faith,  an  intense  dread  of 
mortal  sin,  grace  to  overcome  your  passions,  the  temp- 
tations of  the  devil,  etc. 

Do  not  forget  to  pray  for  the  Sovereign  Pontiff;  you 
ought  to  pray  daily  for  his  intentions.  Pray  also  for 
the  bishop  of  the  diocese,  that  God  may  bless  him  in 
all  that  he  undertakes  for  the  benefit  of  those  subject 
to  him.  Pray  likewise  for  your  pastor;  he  needs  the 
help  of  God  in  order  that  he  may  direct  and  sanctify 
the  flock  entrusted  to  his  care.  Pray  for  all  those  who 
are  dear  to  you,  relatives,  friends,  inferiors,  etc.  It  is 
not  necessary  for  you  to  enter  into  a number  of  details; 
Our  Lord  knows  all  those  whom  you  commend  to  Him, 
He  is  acquainted  with  all  their  necessities.  Finally, 
pray  for  the  poor  souls  in  purgatory. 

After  these  different  acts,  which  you  can  vary  at 


82  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


will,  make  a spiritual  communion,  and  entreat  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  present  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament, 
to  bless  you.  You  can  then  withdraw,  you  will  have 
made  a good  visit  to  the  Holy  Sacrament,  a visit  pleas- 
ing to  God,  and  rich  in  merits  for  heaven. 

Notwithstanding  your  good  will,  you  may  perhaps 
be  unable  to  make  a daily  visit  to  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment. Distance  from  the  church,  a journey,  illness, 
or  some  other  obstacle,  may  deprive  you  of  the  happi- 
ness of  entering  the  holy  place.  In  this  case,  what 
are  you  to  do  ? Replace,  if  you  can,  the  visit  you  are 
unable  to  make  actually,  by  a spiritual  visit  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament.  In  order  to  make  this  spiritual 
visit  to  the  Holy  Eucharist  you  must  transport  yourself 
in  spirit,  to  the  tabernacle,  and  adore  Jesus  Christ 
present  upon  the  altar.  During  the  Babylonian  cap- 
tivity, the  Jews  used  to  turn  in  the  direction  of  the 
temple  at  Jerusalem  whenever  they  engaged  in  prayer. 
We  are  told  that  the  Blessed  Margaret  Mary,  while 
still  quite  a child,  was  accustomed  to  kneel  down  in  the 
direction  of  the  church  in  order  to  adore  Jesus  Christ 
present  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  if  she  was  unable 
to  repair  in  person  to  the  sacred  edifice.  Devout  soul, 
do  you  act  in  like  manner,  and  you  will  be  pleasing  to 
Our  Lord  present  in  the  sacred  Host.  Wherever  you 
may  be,  Our  Lord  sees  you,  and  nothing  escapes  His 
notice.  This  desire  to  visit  Him,  this  act  of  faith  in  the 
real  presence,  this  act  of  love  for  Jesus  Christ,  will  all 
be  reckoned  to  you  for  a blessed  eternity. 


Chapter  16 

fib c Ho vc  of  /ifcars  for  flbose  ‘limbo  Dtslt  tbe 
JSlesecb  Sacrament 


^^*HERE  exists,  Father  Faber  tells  us  in  one  of  his 
Vr)  works,  an  intimate  connection  between  devotion 
to  Mary  and  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  In 
order  to  convince  ourselves  of  this  fact  it  is  enough  to 
read  the  Lives  of  the  Saints  and  the  works  of 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  8$ 

masters  of  the  spiritual  life.  But  why  should  we  have 
recourse  to  the  example  of  others?  Our  own  experi- 
ence is  sufficient  proof.  We  have  all  noticed  that  in 
proportion  to  the  progress  we  make  in  the  love  of 
Mary  our  devotion  to  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  be- 
comes more  tender  and  affectionate,  and  the  longer 
we  remain  in  the  presence  of  Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host, 
the  deeper  root  does  our  love  for  this  amiable  Mother 
appear  to  strike  in  our  heart.  This  is  found  to  be  true 
in  all  places  and  in  all  ages  of  the  Church,  and  no  one 
can  need  an  explanation  of  it  who  remembers  that  one 
is  the  Mother  and  the  other  is  the  Son. 

In  truth,  the  bonds  which  unite  Jesus  and  Mary  are 
too  intimate  to  be  severed.  Mary  participated  in  the 
mystery  of  the  Incarnation;  indeed,  she  had  a prin- 
cipal part  in  it.  She  is  not  the  Incarnate  God,  she  is 
His  Mother.  She  also  participated  in  the  mystery  of 
the  Redemption,  standing  at  the  foot  of  the  cross, 
standing  in  the  attitude  of  one  who  offers  a sacrifice, 
co-operating  in  the  work  of  Redemption  as  she  had, 
by  giving  her  consent,  co-operated  in  the  mystery  of  the 
Incarnation. 

“ Mary  is  associated  in  a certain  sense,”  a learned 
cardinal  tells  us,  “ with  the  real  presence  of  Jesus  in 
our  churches.  The  first  heretical  assertion  in  regard 
to  the  truth  of  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar  consisted  in 
denying  that  the  Eucharistic  body  of  the  Lord  was  the 
body  born  of  Mary.  And  in  reply  to  this  first  nega- 
tion, our  act  of  faith  is  always  formulated  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms:  ‘ Hail  to  thee,  true  body  sprung  from 
the  Virgin  Mary’s  womb  9 — ‘ Ave  verum  corpus  natum 
ex  Maria  Virgine ? Thus  there  is  not  any  Catholic 
church  in  which,  beside  the  tabernacle  which  contains 
the  body  of  Jesus,  there  is  not  to  be  seen  an  image  of 
her  who  was  the  first  and  living  tabernacle  He  honored 
with  His  presence.” 

Thus  we  see  that  Mary  is  closely  related  to  the  Most 
Holy  Sacrament,  and  she  can  not  remain  indifferent 
to  the  honor  paid  to  it.  In  order  to  stimulate  the  true 
children  of  Mary  to  increase  more  and  more  in  love 


84  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

for  the  Eucharist,  we  shall  successively  treat,  in  the 
course  of  the  present  work,  of  the  love  of  this  tender 
Mother  for  those  who  visit  the  Blessed  Sacrament, 
for  those  who  communicate  frequently,  and  finally  for 
those  who  assist  devoutly  at  holy  Mass. 

We  will  first  direct  the  attention  of  pious  souls  to 
that  which  relates  to  visits  paid  to  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment. 

The  Gospel  tells  us  that  Mary,  having  been  informed 
by  the  archangel  Gabriel  of  the  favor  which  had  been 
granted  to  her  cousin  in  her  old  age,  left  her  beloved 
solitude,  and  crossed  the  mountains  of  Judea  in  order 
to  salute  her  cousin.  At  the  voice  of  Mary,  at  her  first 
salutation,  Elizabeth  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
St.  John  the  Baptist  leaped  in  her  womb,  and  he  was 
purified  from  the  stain  of  original  sin.  Let  us  apply 
this  fact  to  a visit  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

Immediately  after  His  Incarnation,  Jesus  hastened 
to  accomplish  the  work  of  our  redemption.  The  first 
effect  of  His  zeal  was  to  conquer  sin  in  the  person  of 
His  Precursor.  When  Jesus  wills  the  conversion  of 
a soul,  when  He  wills  to  raise  her  to  a certain  degree 
of  perfection,  He  draws  her  sweetly  and  strongly, 
suaviter  et  fortiter , to  His  tabernacles,  and  the  first- 
fruits  of  the  intimate  communings  of  this  soul  with  her 
God  are  hatred  of  sin  and  love  of  justice.  If  we  desire 
to  be  sincere,  we  must  confess  that  we  have  often  been 
deeply  moved  when  kneeling  before  the  altar.  Then 
troubles  disappear,  tears  are  dried,  temptations  are 
put  to  flight,  and  our  soul  exclaims,  overflowing  with 
joy,  “ Whence  is  this  to  me  ? ” Ah,  it  proceeds  from 
the  vicinity  of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament;  it  proceeds 
from  Mary,  who  has  persuaded  her  adorable  Son  to 
turn  upon  us  one  of  those  looks  which  heal,  console, 
and  strengthen. 

Yes,  Mary  loves  the  souls  who  visit  Jesus  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament.  To  assert  the  contrary  would  be 
tantamount  to  maintaining  that  formerly  she  was  in- 
sensible to  the  visit  the  shepherds  paid  to  the  stable  at 
Bethlehem.  We  can  well  believe  that  she  lent  an 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  85 

attentive  ear  to  their  simple  story  when  they  told  how 
the  angel  had  appeared  to  them  and'  commanded  them 
to  come  and  adore  their  Saviour  and  spoke  of  the  joy- 
ous songs  of  the  celestial  spirits! 

Once  again,  can  we  believe  that  Mary  would  not  pay 
heed  to  a soul  which  had  laid  aside  her  ordinary  oc- 
cupations in  order  to  visit  Jesus,  Who  is  more  neglected 
in  the  Eucharist  than  He  was  in  the  crib?  No,  that 
can  not  be. 

The  sacred  text  mentions  another  visit  paid  to  Jesus 
— that  of  the  Magi.  “ And  entering  into  the  house 
they  found  the  child  with  Mary  His  mother.”  1 What 
consoling  words  are  these  for  persons  who  visit  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  regularly,  who  day  by  day  offer  to 
Jesus  the  gold  of  their  love,  the  incense  of  their  prayers, 
the  myrrh  of  their  sufferings!  Mary  is  always  with 
Jesus;  they  are  inseparable.  How,  then,  is  it  possible 
to  visit  one  without  meeting  the  other  ? 

Can  we  pass  over  in  silence,  Christian  souls,  the 
signal  favor  granted  by  Mary  to  the  aged  Simeon, 
after  her  visit  to  the  temple  at  Jerusalem.  The 
Blessed  Virgin  placed  the  infant  Jesus  in  his  arms, 
and  the  holy  old  man,  raising  his  eyes  to  heaven,  ex- 
claimed: “ Now  Thou  dost  dismiss  Thy  servant,  O 
Lord,  according  to  Thy  word  in  peace,  because  my 
eyes  have  seen  Thy  salvation.”  Then,  addressing 
himself  to  Mary,  he  adds;  “ Behold,  this  Child  is  set 
for  the  fall  and  for  the  resurrection  of  many  in  Israel, 
and  for  a sign  that  shall  be  contradicted;  and  thy  own 
soul  a sword  shall  pierce.” 

Alas,  it  was  not  only  during  His  mortal  life  that 
Jesus  was  exposed  to  contradiction,  and  was  an  object 
of  hatred  to  His  enemies;  what  is  His  Eucharistic  life 
but  a repetition  of  the  same  outrages  and  the  same  in- 
juries ? In  the  present  day  more  especially,  those  are 
very  numerous  who  deny  the  divinity  of  our  adorable 
Master,  and  who  strive  to  destroy  what  still  remains 
of  belief  in  the  real  presence  of  Jesus  in  the  Most  Holy 

1 Et  intrantes  domum  invenerunt  puerum  cum  Maria 
mater  ejus.  — Matt.  ii.  n. 


86  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


Sacrament!  O Mary,  how  deeply  grieved  must  thou 
be  to  see  thy  Son  so  little  loved,  so  seldom  visited  in 
the  Sacrament  of  His  love! 

Finally,  the  Gospel  tells  us  of  a visit  which  was  paid 
to  Jesus  while  He  hung  upon  the  cross.  All  the 
apostles  had  basely  abandoned  their  Master;  St.  John 
alone  followed  Him  to  Calvary.  Behold  him  standing 
at  the  foot  of  the  cross  with  Mary  and  some  other  de- 
vout women.  He  is  there  in  order  to  compassionate 
the  sorrows  of  the  Mother  and  the  Son.  He  is  intimi- 
dated neither  by  the  shouts  of  the  mob  nor  by  the 
blasphemies  of  the  haughty  Pharisees.  Jesus  is 
abandoned  by  Heaven  and  earth;  St.  John  alone  bears 
Him  company.  His  Master  is  insulted;  he  makes 
reparation  and  honorable  amends  to  Him  for  the  in- 
sults that  are  inflicted  upon  Him.  The  executioners 
offer  Him  gall  and  vinegar;  St.  John  offers  Him  his 
love!  Wilt  Thou,  O Jesus,  permit  this  heroic  act  of 
Thy  well-beloved  apostle,  this  first  visit  of  reparation, 
to  go  unrewarded  ? “ Son,  behold  thy  Mother,  Mother, 

behold  thy  Son.”  Such  is  the  reply  of  the  expiring 
Saviour. 

Christian  souls,  do  you  now  understand  what  will  be 
your  reward  if,  like  St.  John,  you  remain  faithful  to 
Jesus  in  the  evil  days  in  which  our  lot  is  cast.  The 
more  Our  Lord  is  insulted,  despised,  and  buffeted,  the 
more  you  ought  to  remain  near  Him  in  the  Holy  Sac- 
rament. Then  Mary  will  be  in  very  deed  your  mother, 
as  she  was  the  mother  of  the  beloved  disciple. 


Chapter  17 

3esu0  Gbrtet  IlnstltuteD  tbe  Sacrament  of  tbe 
lEucbarist  in  ©rber  that  Ibe  /Ibtgbt  JSe  tbe  ffoob 
of  Qnv  Souls 

IN  a former  chapter  we  recalled  to  mind  the  ends 
for  which  Our  Lord  instituted  the  Sacrament  of 
the  Eucharist.  He  willed  to  be  the  companion  of  our 
sojourn  upon  earth,  our  food  in  holy  communion,  and 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  87 

our  victim  in  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  From 
these  three  reasons  for  the  institution  of  the  Eucharist 
there  proceed,  as  far  as  we  are  concerned,  three  duties 
in  regard  to  Jesus  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  — we 
ought  to  visit  Him,  to  receive  Him  in  holy  communion, 
and  to  assist  at  Mass. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  visiting  the  Blessed 
Sacrament;  we  will  now  speak  of  the  Holy  Eucharist 
as  the  food  of  our  soul. 

If  Jesus  Christ,  in  instituting  this  sacrament,  had  had 
no  other  end  than  that  of  establishing  His  abode  in  our 
midst,  in  order  to  console  us  by  His  presence,  to  coun- 
sel us  in  our  doubts,  to  strengthen  us  in  our  weakness, 
that  would  have  been  indeed  an  excess  of  charity. 
But  He  did  not  stop  here.  His  love  led  Him  to  con- 
ceal Himself  in  the  consecrated  Host  in  order  that  He 
might  be  received  on  our  tongue  and  enter  into  our 
breast,  in  order  to  incorporate  Himself  with  us  and 
unite  us  to  Him  in  the  closest  and  most  intimate  man- 
ner. It  was  not  enough  for  this  divine  Saviour  to  draw 
near  to  us  and  to  be  present  with  us;  He  desired  a still 
closer  union,  which  should  identify  Him  with  us,  as  He 
said  Himself:  “ He  that  eateth  My  flesh  and  drinketh 
My  blood,  abideth  in  Me  and  I in  him.”  1 There  is 
nothing  in  the  world  which  unites  itself  more  intimately 
with  us,  and  becomes  more  entirely  our  own,  than  the 
food  of  which  we  partake.  This  food  assimilates  itself 
to  us  in  such  a manner  as  to  become  one  thing  with  us, 
the  same  flesh,  the  same  individual.  In  a similar  way, 
by  means  of  holy  communion,  Jesus  Christ  unites  Him- 
self to  us  in  such  a manner  that,  to  quote  His  own 
words,  He  abides  in  us,  and  we  in  Him.  There  is, 
however,  this  difference  between  the  Eucharistic  bread 
and  ordinary  bread  — the  latter  changes  itself  into  our 
substance,  while  the  former  transforms  us  into  Jesus 
Christ.  “ I am  the  Bread  of  the  strong,”  Our  Lord 
said  to  St.  Augustine,  “ increase  in  strength  and  thou 
shalt  feed  upon  Me.  I shall  not  be  changed  into  thee, 

1 Qui  manducat  meam  carnem  et  bibit  meam  sanguinem, 
in  me  manet,  et  ego  in  illo.  — Joan.  vi.  57. 


88  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


but  thou  shalt  be  changed  into  Me.”  “ He  that  eateth 
me,  the  same  shall  also  live  by  me.”  1 

This  marvelous  change  is  not  the  transmutation  of 
our  substance  into  that  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  is  incor- 
ruptible and  immortal,  but  of  our  spirit  into  that  of 
Jesus  Christ,  Who,  by  giving  us  His  flesh,  imparts  to 
us  His  divine  virtues  in  order  to  make  us  live  with  His 
life.  “ He  that  eateth  Me,  the  same  shall  also  live  by 
Me.” 

0 Christian,  could  any  love  be  greater  than  this? 
Who  could  ever  have  imagined  love  so  transcendent? 
God  desires  to  become  the  food  of  man ! God  descends 
into  His  creature,  becomes  the  sustenance  of  his  life, 
his  bread!  And  that  not  once  only,  but  thousands  and 
thousands  of  times.  He  is  not  satisfied  with  permitting 
us  to  receive  Him,  He  commands  us  to  do  so.  “ Except 
you  eat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  man  and  drink  His 
blood,  you  shall  not  have  life  in  you.”  Our  Lord  said 
upon  one  occasion  to  Marie  Lataste:  “ My  child,  if 
there  were  in  the  course  of  ages  but  one  single  soul 
which  would  have  given  glory  to  Me  and  to  God  My 
Father  in  the  Holy  Sacrament,  and  if  all  the  rest  of 
mankind  would  have  united  in  outraging  Me  and  in 
refusing  to  be  saved  by  Me,  I should  nevertheless  have 
instituted  it.  By  this  thou  canst  judge  of  the  greatness 
of  My  love  for  souls.”  What  gratitude  ought  not  Chris- 
tians to  feel  for  Jesus  Christ,  in  return  for  the  immense 
charity  which  induced  Him  to  institute  this  sacrament! 
What  a throng  ought  to  press  to  the  Holy  Table!  It 
seems  that  the  faithful  ought  to  live  in  a manner  so  per- 
fect as  to  be  able  daily  to  receive  this  heavenly  food. 
This  is  the  bread  that  cometh  down  from  heaven.2 

1 Qui  manducat  me  et  ipse  vivet  propter  me.  — Joan.  vi. 
58. 

2 Hie  est  panis  de  coelo  descendens.  — Ibid.  50. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  89 

Chapter  18 

1bol£  Communion 

communicate  is  to  receive  the  body,  blood,  soul, 
and  divinity  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We  have 
just  seen  that  the  Saviour  did  not  institute  the  Sacra- 
ment of  the  Eucharist  merely  that  He  might  remain 
among  us,  to  receive  our  homage  and  our  visits,  but  to 
give  Himself  to  us  in  holy  communion.  Earthly  friends 
are  not  satisfied  with  merely  greeting  one  another  and 
visiting  one  another,  but  they  invite  one  another  to 
some  meal.  It  is  thus  that  Jesus  acts  in  regard  to  us. 
He  invites  us  to  partake  with  Him  of  the  mystic  repast 
of  holy  communion.  Who  could  ever  express,  who 
could  ever  understand,  what  holy  communion  really  is! 
In  order  to  speak  of  such  a subject,  a saint  ought  to 
come  down  from  heaven.  Let  us,  nevertheless,  en- 
deavor to  treat,  however  inadequately,  of  this  mystery, 
and  to  make  the  greatness  of  this  solemn  act  under- 
stood by  recalling  to  mind  (i)  Who  it  is  that  gives 
Himself.  (2)  To  whom  He  gives  Himself.  (3)  Where- 
fore He  gives  Himself. 

1.  Who  is  it  that  gives  Himself?  If  an  earthly 
monarch  deigned  to  send  a dish  from  his  own  table  to 
one  of  his  subjects,  the  recipient  of  this  favor  would 
certainly  feel  himself  greatly  honored.  But  if  his 
charity  were  to  go  still  further,  if  he  were  to  invite  the 
most  indigent  of  his  subjects  to  take  a place  at  table 
beside  himself,  would  not  this  poor  man  feel  intensely 
flattered?  Would  he  ever  forget  the  signal  honor  he 
had  received?  Would  he  not  speak  of  it  with  pardon- 
able pride?  But  what  is  the  table  of  the  greatest  of 
earthly  monarchs  in  comparison  with  the  Holy  Table  ? 
What  is  the  food  of  the  princes  of  this  world  compared 
to  the  Eucharistic  bread?  Jesus,  the  immortal  king 
of  ages,  the  Creator  of  all  that  we  behold  around  us! 
Jesus,  the  desired  of  all  nations  during  four  thousand 
years!  Jesus,  the  divine  Infant  of  Bethlehem,  the 
Youth  of  Nazareth!  Jesus,  the  Author  of  the  Holy 


go  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

Gospels,  the  Redeemer  of  the  world!  Jesus,  risen 
again  and  seated  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father,  the 
Judge  of  the  living  and  of  the  dead!  He  it  is  Who  gives 
Himself  in  His  entirety,  with  His  two  natures,  with  the 
grace  and  merit  of  all  the  conditions  through  which  He 
passed.  What  a gift  is  this ! If  human  reason  exclaims 
in  astonishment:  “ Durus  est  hie  sermo  ” — “ This  is 
a hard  saying,”  we  reply,  with  all  believing  souls:  “ O 
Jesus,  we  firmly  believe  that  Thou  art  present  in  the 
Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  because  Thou  hast  thus 
spoken.” 

2.  To  whom  does  He  give  Himself?  To  a poor 
sinner,  to  what  is  most  pitiable  upon  earth.  Irrational 
creatures  are,  it  is  true,  inferior  to  us,  but  at  least  they 
have  never  rebelled  against  God.  Everything  in  nature 
obeys  the  Lord,  from  the  planet  farthest  from  our  globe 
to  the  smallest  worm  that  crawls  upon  the  earth. 
One  being  alone  is  an  exception  in  the  visible  creation, 
and  this  being  is  man!  And  it  is  for  the  sake  of  this 
rebel  that  God  deigns  to  come  down  from  heaven! 
Were  a prince  to  quit  his  gilded  palace  and  go  down 
into  a poor  cabin,  the  dwelling  of  a shepherdess;  if, 
from  a feeling  of  friendship,  he  consented  to  remain  in 
this  humble  abode ; if  he  asked  this  lowly  maiden  to 
become  his  spouse,  what  would  men  say  concerning 
this  marvelous  abatement  ? How  they  would  extol  the 
good  fortune  of  this  shepherdess  in  being  thus  raised 
from  extreme  poverty  in  order  to  be  seated  upon  a 
throne!  Yet,  once  again,  what  is  all  this  when  com- 
pared with  the  abasement  of  Jesus  when  He  gives 
Himself  to  us  in  holy  communion?  Never  shall  we 
understand  the  love  which  Jesus  evinces  in  our  regard 
in  giving  Himself  to  us  in  holy  communion!  If,  O 
Jesus,  men  knew  what  holy  communion  really  is,  how 
would  they  hunger  and  thirst  for  this  divine  food. 
uSi  scires  donum  Dei  “ If  thou  didst  know  the  gift 
of  God.”  Did  you  but  know  the  gift  of  God,  and  Who 
He  is  that  condescends  to  give  Himself  to  you! 

Blessed  Imelda  was  only  ten  years  old  when  she 
quitted  the  parental  roof  in  order  to  enter  a convent  of 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  91 

Dominican  nuns.  Even  at  this  tender  age,  she  was 
already  a model  of  perfection.  One  thing  deeply 
grieved  her,  that  she  was  not  allowed  to  receive  holy 
communion.  Her  confessor,  heeding  her  extreme 
youth  more  than  her  virtue  and  piety,  thought  fit  *o 
postpone  the  day  of  her  first  communion.  But  Our 
Lord  delayed  not  to  correspond  to  the  ardent  longing 
of  His  youthful  servant.  He  willed  to  show,  by  means 
of  a miracle,  that  He  looks,  not  so  much  at  the  years 
of  His  saints  as  at  the  dispositions  of  their  hearts.  One 
day  when,  during  the  communion  of  the  nuns,  Imelda 
was  bewailing  with  sighs  and  tears  her  inability  to 
partake  of  the  Bread  of  Angels,  a Host  was  seen  to 
quit  the  ciborium  in  a miraculous  manner,  rise  into  the 
air,  and  remain  suspended  over  her  head.  At  the  sight 
of  this  wonder,  her  desires  increased  in  intensity.  The 
Religious  were  struck  with  astonishment  on  beholding 
this  miracle,  and  scarcely  dared  to  believe  their  eyes. 
They  pointed  this  out  to  the  chaplain,  who  went  to  the 
spot  and  saw  that  it  was  true.  He  received  the  Host 
upon  a paten,  and  communicated  the  young  girl,  Jesus 
Christ  having  thus  signified  that  He  willed  to  descend 
into  her  innocent  heart.  After  this  consummation  of 
her  wishes,  Imelda,  being  too  weak  to  bear  the  super- 
human happiness  she  experienced,  closed  her  eyes  as 
if  she  had  sunk  into  a deep  sleep,  and  immediately 
gave  up  her  pure  soul  to  God,  May  13,  1333.  The  re- 
port of  this  blessed  death  made  the  name  of  the  youth- 
ful saint  to  become  widely  known.1  Obtain  for  us,  O 
Blessed  Imelda,  grace  to  understand  as  thou  didst, 
what  communion  really  is.  Grant  also  thy  protection 
to  all  children  who  approach  the  Holy  Table  for  the 
first  time. 

3.  Wherefore  does  He  give  Himself?  Ask  rather 
why  you  take  food,  why  you  go  to  the  physician,  why 
in  all  your  sorrows  you  seek  a comforter.  He  comes 
to  us,  this  loving  Saviour,  solely  in  order  to  do  us  good. 

1 The  relics  of  the  Blessed  Imelda  are  preserved  at  Bologna 
in  the  parish  church  of  St.  Nicholas.  The  Sovereign  Pontiff 
Leo  XIII  raised  her  to  the  altars  of  the  Church. 


g 2 INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

He  has  no  need  of  us,  but  we  have  sore  need  of  Him. 
Our  soul  hungers  and  thirsts  for  happiness;  nothing 
can  fully  satisfy  it,  except  Jesus  in  the  Eucharist.  Our 
soul  is  sick,  a prey  to  the  fever  of  concupiscence ; Jesus 
is  the  only  physician  who  can  cure  it.  Our  soul  is  sad, 
it  often  sighs,  when  it  remembers  its  cruel  exile  ; Jesus 
alone  can  console  it. 

The  votaries  of  the  world  boast  of  the  splendor  of 
their  banquets;  those  who  are  burdened  with  human 
infirmities  besiege  the  doors  of  the  most  eminent  phy- 
sicians ; those  who  are  in  affliction,  those  who  are  dis- 
contented with  their  lot  in  life,  seek  distraction,  some 
in  illicit  pleasures,  others  in  frequenting  the  theater; 
some  travel  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  in  order  to  dispel 
their  ennui;  others  move  heaven  and  earth  to  acquire 
renown;  we  envy  them  not,  nothing  can  equal  for  us 
the  joy  which  the  Blessed  Eucharist  brings  to  us  day 
by  day! 


Chapter  19 

toow  Often  Ought  Me  to  Communicate? 

^^HERE  is  a divine  precept  which  renders  it  incum- 
Vz)  bent  on  all  Christians,  as  soon  as  they  have  at- 
tained the  age  of  discretion,  to  communicate  from  time 
to  time  during  their  life,  and  above  all  when  they  are 
in  danger  of  death.  This  command  was  enjoined  upon 
us  by  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  Himself,  and  nothing  is 
more  plainly  laid  down  in  the  Gospel  than  the  duty  of 
receiving  holy  communion.  “ Take  ye  and  eat.  This 
is  My  body.  Drink  ye  aU  of  this,  for  this  is  My  blood. 
Do  this  for  a commemoration  of  Me.”  This  is  not 
merely  an  invitation  which  Jesus  addresses  to  us;  it  is 
a command  which  we  must  obey.  Our  Lord  makes  the 
reception  of  the  Eucharist  a question  of  life  or  death 
for  our  souls ; He  threatens  us  with  eternal  damnation 
if  we  refuse  to  eat  His  sacred  flesh  and  drink  His 
precious  blood.  “ Amen,  Amen,  I say  unto  you:  Ex- 
cept you  eat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  man,  and  drink  His 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  93 

blood,  you  shall  not  have  life  in  you.  He  that  eateth 
My  flesh  and  drinketh  My  blood,  hath  everlasting  life, 
and  I will  raise  him  up  in  the  last  day.”  1 As  you  see, 
pious  souls,  nothing  is  plainer  than  this  law.  Thus  the 
early  Christians  showed  great  fidelity  in  observing  it; 
they  frequently  received  the  Holy  Eucharist.  “ They 
were  persevering,”  St.  Luke  tells  us,  “ in  the  doctrine 
of  the  apostles,  and  in  the  communication  of  the  break- 
ing of  bread.”  2 By  this  expression,  “ the  breaking  of 
bread,”  the  sacred  writer  speaks  of  the  Eucharist. 
“ The  bread  which  we  break,”  St.  Paul  says  in  his 
turn,  “ is  it  not  the  partaking  of  the  body  of  the  Lord  ? ” 
We  also  read  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  as  follows: 
“ And  all  they  that  believed,  were  together  . . . con- 
tinuing daily  with  one  accord  in  the  temple,  and  break- 
ing bread  from  house  to  house.”  3 We  learn  from  these 
various  quotations  that  the  apostles  and  the  early 
Christians  considered  these  words  of  the  Saviour  to 
contain  a command,  and  that  they  were  faithful  in 
observing  it. 

But  when  ought  we  to  communicate  ? Our  Lord  has 
not  Himself  fixed  the  day  and  the  hour ; He  has  left  this 
care  to  His  Church.  The  Church,  which  speaks  to  us 
with  the  voice  of  Jesus  Christ,  has  expressed  her  will 
in  regard  to  this  subject.  During  the  first  centuries 
she  invited  the  faithful  to  communicate  whenever  they 
assisted  at  Mass,  and  the  faithful  obeyed.  Those  who 
on  account  of  sickness  or  any  other  hindrance  were 
prevented  from  assisting  at  the  Holy  Mysteries,  caused 
holy  communion  to  be  brought  to  them,  and  communi- 
cated themselves.  When  traveling,  they  took  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  with  them,  in  order  to  be  able  to 
communicate.  In  the  times  of  persecution,  deacons, 
acolytes,  women,  and  even  children,  carried  the  Eu- 
charist secretly  to  prisoners,  in  order  that  they  might 
thus  gain  strength  to  give  up  their  life  for  Jesus  Christ. 

Yet  when  the  Church  enjoyed  peace  under  the  rule 
of  the  Emperor  Constantine,  the  Christians  did  not 
approach  holy  communion  so  often,  since  they  were  no 
1 John  vi.  54,  55.  2 Acts  ii.  42.  3 Ibid.  46. 


94  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

longer  exposed  to  so  many  dangers  and  trials.  From 
that  period  the  Holy  Table  was  less  frequently  ap- 
proached, and  that  is  the  reason  why,  toward  the  eighth 
century,  the  Church  found  herself  compelled  to  fix  the 
number  of  communions  of  obligation.  All  those  Chris- 
tians who  did  not  receive  communion  at  the  feasts  of 
Christmas,  Easter,  and  Pentecost  were  no  longer  con- 
sidered to  be  Catholics.  Finally,  at  the  Fourth  Lateran 
Council,  in  1215,  it  was  decreed  that  all  the  faithful 
were  to  receive  communion  once  a year  at  least,  at 
Easter,  under  terrible  penalties  of  excommunication 
and  deprivation  of  Christian  burial.  This  law  was 
confirmed  by  the  Council  of  Trent  in  1550.  We  learn 
the  same  from  our  catechism. 

Does  the  Christian  who  only  receives  communion  at 
Easter  fulfil  his  duty  in  the  strict  sense  of  the  word? 
Yes,  for  the  Church  has  fixed  the  limit  which  may  not 
be  overstepped.  But  does  he  correspond  to  the  inten- 
tions of  Jesus  Christ  and  of  His  Church?  We  reply 
in  the  negative.  In  order  to  settle  this  important  ques- 
tion, it  is  only  necessary  to  remember  that  the  Church 
in  all  her  Councils,  by  the  mouth  of  all  her  Doctors 
and  saints,  has  never  ceased  to  invite  the  faithful  to 
communicate  more  frequently. 

What  does  the  holy  Council  of  Trent  say  upon  this 
subject?  We  quote  the  following  passage:  “ The  holy 
synod  would  fain  indeed  that,  at  each  Mass,  the  faith- 
ful who  are  present  should  communicate,  not  only  in 
spiritual  desire,  but  also  by  the  sacramental  participa- 
tion of  the  Eucharist,  that  thereby  a more  abundant 
fruit  might  be  derived  to  them  from  this  most  holy 
sacrifice.,,  1 

And  the  Roman  Catechism,  drawn  up  by  the  order 
of  the  Council  of  Trent,  adds  these  weighty  words, 
which  are  of  peremptory  authority:  “ Let  not  the  faith- 
ful deem  it  enough  to  receive  the  body  of  the  Lord  once 
a year  only  in  obedience  to  the  authority  of  this  decree; 
but  let  them  judge  that  communion  ought  to  be  more 
frequent,  but  whether  it  be  more  expedient  that  it 
1 The  Decrees  of  the  Council  of  Trent,  Sess.  XXII,  ch.  6. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  95 

should  be  monthly,  weekly,  or  daily,  can  be  decided  by 
no  fixed  universal  rule.  St.  Augustine,  however,  lays 
down  a most  certain  standard:  ‘Live,’  says  he,  ‘in 
such  a manner  as  to  be  able  to  receive  daily.’  Where- 
fore it  wifi  be  the  part  of  the  parish  priest  frequently  to 
exhort  the  faithful  that,  as  they  think  it  necessary  every 
day  to  afford  nourishment  to  the  body,  they  should  also 
not  neglect  daily  to  feed  and  nourish  the  soul  with  this 
sacrament;  for  it  is  evident  tnat  the  soul  stands  not 
less  in  need  of  spiritual  than  the  body  of  natural  food. 
And  here  it  will  be  most  beneficial  to  recapitulate  the 
immense  and  divine  advantages  which  we  derive  from 
the  sacramental  communion  of  the  Eucharist.  The 
figure  of  the  manna  is  also  to  be  added,  which  it  was 
necessary  to  use  every  day,  in  order  to  repair  the 
strength  of  the  body.  (Exod.  xvi.  21,  sq.) ; and  also  the 
authorities  of  the  holy  Fathers,  which  earnestly  recom- 
mend the  frequent  participation  of  this  sacrament; 
for  the  words,  ‘ Thou  sinnest  daily;  receive  daily,’  are 
not  the  sentiment  of  St.  Augustine  alone,  but  also,  as 
any  one  upon  diligent  inquiry  will  easily  discover,  the 
sentiment  of  all  the  Fathers  who  wrote  on  this  sub- 
i!  ject.” 1 

Such,  Christian  souls,  is  the  truth,  such  is  the  will  of 
God,  such  is  the  rule  which  is  given  us  by  the  infallible 
teaching  of  the  Church.  Let  every  one  be  impressed 
with  this  truth,  and  if  need  be,  correct  his  conduct  in 
regard  to  the  important  duty  of  communion. 

We  read  that  Witikind,  leader  of  the  Saxons,  when 
still  a heathen  and  fighting  against  Charlemagne,  was 
curious  to  see  what  went  on  in  the  Christian  camp,  and 
in  order  to  do  so,  he  disguised  himself  as  a pilgrim. 
It  was  at  Easter,  when  all  the  Christian  soldiers  per- 
formed their  devotions.  He  entered  the  camp  and 
beheld  with  admiration  the  ceremonial  of  the  Mass; 
but  what  caused  him  the  greatest  surprise  was  to  see, 
in  each  Host  which  the  priest  administered  to  the  sol- 
diers, a child  of  marvelous  beauty,  radiant  with  light. 

1 Catechism  of  the  Council  of  Trent,  translated  into  Eng- 
lish by  Very  Rev.  J.  Donovan,  D.D. 


g6  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

This  child  appeared  to  enter  gladly  into  the  mouth  of 
some,  and  with  repugnance  into  the  mouth  of  others. 
Witikind  asked  the  explanation  of  this,  and  the  miracu- 
lous vision  caused  him  to  embrace  Christianity,  and  he 
induced  all  his  subjects  to  embrace  it  likewise. 


iF'/tract  from  tbe  Decree  concerning  Dail£ 
Communion 

Issued  at  Rome  on  the  20th  day  of  December,  1905 

I.  ‘ ifREQUENT  and  daily  communion,  as  a thing 
ri—1  most  earnestly  desired  by  Christ  our  Lord  and 
by  the  Catholic  Church,  should  be  open  to  all  the  faith- 
ful, of  whatever  rank  and  condition  of  life ; so  that  no 
one  who  is  in  the  state  of  grace,  and  who  approaches 
the  Holy  Table  with  a right  and  devout  intention,  can 
lawfully  be  hindered  therefrom. 

2.  A right  intention  consists  in  this:  That  he  who 
approaches  the  Holy  Table  should  do  so,  not  out  of 
routine,  or  vainglory,  or  human  respect,  but  for  the 
purpose  of  pleasing  God,  or  being  more  closely  united 
with  Him  by  charity,  and  of  seeking  this  divine  remedy 
for  his  weaknesses  and  defects. 

3.  Although  it  is  more  expedient  that  those  who 
communicate  frequently  or  daily  should  be  free  from 
venial  sins,  especially  from  such  as  are  fully  deliberate, 
and  from  any  affection  thereto ; nevertheless  it  is  suffi- 
cient that  they  be  free  from  mortal  sin,  with  the  pur- 
pose of  never  sinning  mortally  in  future;  and,  if  they 
have  this  sincere  purpose,  it  is  impossible  but  that 
daily  communicants  should  gradually  emancipate  them- 
selves from  even  venial  sins,  and  from  all  affection 
thereto. 

4.  But  whereas  the  sacraments  of  the  New  Law, 
though  they  take  effect  ex  opere  operate >,  nevertheless 
produce  a greater  effect  in  proportion  as  the  disposi- 
tions of  the  recipient  are  better;  therefore,  care  is  to 
be  taken  that  holy  communion  be  preceded  by  serious 
preparation,  and  followed  by  a suitable  thanksgiving 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  ‘ 97 

according  to  each  one’s  strength,  circumstances,  and 
duties. 

5.  That  the  practice  of  frequent  and  daily  com- 
munion may  be  carried  out  with  greater  prudence  and 
more  abundant  merit,  the  confessor’s  advice  should 
be  asked.  Confessors,  however,  are  to  be  careful  not 
to  dissuade  any  one  from  frequent  and  daily  com- 
munion, provided  that  he  is  in  a state  of  grace  and 
approaches  with  a right  intention. 

6.  But  since  it  is  plain  that,  by  the  frequent  or  daily 
reception  of  the  Holy  Eucharist,  union  with  Christ  is 
fostered,  the  spiritual  life  more  abundantly  sustained, 
the  soul  more  richly  endowed  with  virtues,  and  an  even 
surer  pledge  of  everlasting  happiness  bestowed  on  the 
recipient,  therefore  parish  priests,  confessors,  and 
preachers  — in  accordance  with  the  approved  teaching 
of  the  Roman  Catechism  (Part  ii.  cap.  4,  n.  60)  — are 
frequently  and  with  great  zeal,  to  exhort  the  faithful 
to  this  devout  and  salutary  practice. 

Our  Lord  Himself  more  than  once,  and  in  no  am- 
biguous terms,  pointed  out  the  necessity  of  eating  His 
flesh  and  drinking  His  blood,  especially  in  these 
words : “ This  is  the  bread  that  cometh  down  from 
heaven;  not  as  your  fathers  did  eat  manna  and  are 
dead:  he  that  eateth  this  bread  shall  live  forever  ” 
(John  vii.  59).  Now  from  this  comparison  of  the  food 
of  angels  with  bread  and  with  the  manna,  it  was  easily 
to  be  understood  by  His  disciples  that,  as  the  body  is 
daily  nourished  with  bread,  and  as  the  Hebrews  were 
daily  nourished  with  manna  in  the  desert,  so  the  Chris- 
tian soul  might  daily  partake  of  this  heavenly  Bread 
and  be  refreshed  thereby.  Moreover,  whereas,  in  the 
Lord’s  Prayer,  we  are  bidden  to  ask  for  “ our  daily 
bread,”  the  holy  Fathers  of  the  Church  all  but  unani- 
mously teach  that  by  these  words  must  be  understood 
not  so  much  that  material  bread  which  is  the  support 
of  the  body,  as  the  Eucharistic  Bread  which  ought  to 
be  our  daily  food. 

Moreover,  the  desire  of  Jesus  Christ  and  of  the 
Church  that  all  the  faithful  should  daily  approach  the 


g8  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

sacred  Banquet  is  directed  chiefly  to  this  end,  that  the 
faithful,  being  united  to  God  by  means  of  the  sacra- 
ment, may  thence  derive  strength  to  resist  their  sensual 
passions,  to  cleanse  themselves  from  the  stains  of  daily 
faults,  and  to  avoid  these  graver  sins  to  which  human 
frailty  is  liable ; so  that  its  primary  purpose  is  not  that 
the  honor  and  reverence  due  to  Our  Lord  may  be  safe- 
guarded, or  that  the  sacrament  may  serve  as  a reward 
of  virtue  bestowed  on  the  recipients  (St.  Augustine, 
Serm.  57  in  Matt.,  de  Orat.  Dom.  n.  7).  Hence  the 
holy  Council  of  Trent  calls  the  Eucharist  “ the  antidote 
whereby  we  are  delivered  from  daily  faults  and  pre- 
served from  deadly  sins  ” (Sess.  xiii.  c.  n). 

Prager  for  tije  Propagation  of  ti) t Pious  Custom  of  IBatlg 
Communion 

O SWEET  Jesus,  Who  didst  come  into  the  world 
to  give  to  all  souls  the  life  of  Thy  grace,  and  Who, 
to  preserve  and  nourish  in  them  this  life,  hast  wished 
to  be  their  daily  food  and  the  daily  remedy  of  their  daily 
weakness,  we  humbly  supplicate  Thee,  by  Thy  Heart 
so  inflamed  with  love  for  us,  to  shed  upon  all  souls 
Thy  divine  Spirit,  that  they  who,  unhappily,  are  in 
mortal  sin  may  be  converted  to  Thee  and  recover  the 
life  of  grace  that  they  have  lost,  and  that  they  who,  by 
Thy  help,  already  live  this  divine  life,  may  devoutly 
approach  Thy  Holy  Table  every  day  that  they  can;  so 
that  by  means  of  daily  communion,  receiving  daily  the 
antidote  of  their  daily  venial  sins,  and  feeding  daily 
the  life  of  Thy  grace  in  their  soul,  and  thus  purifying 
themselves  always  more  and  more,  they  may,  at  last, 
arrive  at  the  possession  of  the  life  of  beatitude  with 
Thee.  Amen. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  X,  June  3,  1905. 

“OTijg  &rt  Cfjou  'Efratti?” 

BLESSED  Emily  Bicchieri,  of  the  Order  of  Do- 
minicans, had  the  most  ardent  love  for  the 
Blessed  Sacrament.  She  was  permitted  to  communi- 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  99 

cate  thrice  in  the  week  and  on  all  festivals,  which  in 
those  days  was  unusually  frequent.  Emily’s  humility 
took  alarm,  and  she  resolved  to  abstain  for  a time 
from  approaching  the  Holy  Table.  But  Our  Lord 
would  not  allow  His  spouse  to  fall  into  this  dangerous 
delusion.  He  appeared  to  her  radiant  with  celestial 
glory,  saying:  “ Beloved  spouse,  why  art  thou  afraid 
to  approach  My  banquet?  Have  I not  prepared  it  on 
purpose  that  I might  feed  thee  with  My  flesh  and 
blood?  Come  without  fear  and  look  not  so  much  at 
thine  own  vileness,  but  rather  on  the  loving  pity  which 
moved  Me  to  institute  this  Sacrament  for  the  happi- 
ness of  My  creatures.  Learn  that  they  who  receive 
Me  out  of  love  please  Me  infinitely  more  than  they 
who  keep  away  from  Me  out  of  fear” 

Reassured  by  this  vision,  the  servant  of  God  hun-  . 
gered  more  and  more  after  the  Bread  of  angels.  One 
day  she  was  detained  at  the  bedside  of  a sick  Sister 
and  thus  prevented  from  communicating  with  the  rest. 
As  soon  as  she  was  free  she  went  to  the  choir  and 
lovingly  offered  to  Our  Lord  the  great  privation  which 
she  had  suffered.  An  angel  immediately  appeared 
and  brought  her  holy  communion  in  the  sight  of  all  the 
Sisters.1 


Chapter  20 

Gbe  ffrequent  anb  Balls  Communion  of  Cbllbren 
Pontifical  Decree2 

ON  THE  AGE  OF  THOSE  TO  BE  ADMITTED  TO  FIRST 
HOLY  COMMUNION 


^HE  pages  of  the  Gospels  plainly  testify  to  the 
Vz)  special  love  which  Christ  showed  whilst  on  earth 
to  the  little  ones.  It  was  His  delight  to  be  in  their 
midst.  He  used  to  lay  His  hands  upon  them,  to  em- 


1 Sentinel  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

2 From  Pontifical  Decrees:  Daily  Communion,  and  the 
Age  for  First  Communion,  published  by  the  Fathers  of  the 
Blessed  Sacrament.  New  York. 


100  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


brace  and  bless  them.  He  was  indignant  when  they 
were  repulsed  by  His  disciples,  and  reprimanded  the 
latter  in  the  following  severe  words:  “ Suffer  the  little 
children  to  come  unto  Me  and  forbid  them  not;  for 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  God.,,  (Mark  x.  13,  16.)  How 
highly  He  prized  their  innocence  and  candor  of  soul 
He  clearly  shows  when,  calling  a little  one,  He  said  to 
His  disciples : “ Amen  I say  to  you,  unless  you  be  con- 
verted, and  become  as  little  children,  you  shall  not 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  Whosoever  there- 
fore shall  humble  himself  as  this  little  child,  he  is  the 
greater  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  And  he  that  shall 
receive  one  such  little  child  in  My  name,  receiveth 
Me.”  — Matt,  xviii.  2,  4,  5. 

Bearing  this  in  mind,  the  Catholic  Church  from  the 
beginning  took  care  to  bring  the  little  ones  to  Christ 
through  Eucharistic  communion,  which  used  to  be 
given  even  to  sucklings.  This,  as  was  prescribed  in 
almost  all  the  ancient  rituals  till  the  thirteenth  century, 
was  done  at  Baptism,  and  the  same  custom  prevailed 
for  a long  time  in  some  places;  it  is  still  in  vogue  with 
the  Greeks  and  Orientals.  But  to  avoid  all  danger, 
lest  the  children  should  spit  out  the  consecrated  Host, 
the  custom  obtained  from  the  beginning  of  giving  the 
Holy  Eucharist  under  the  species  of  wine  alone. 

The  infants  did  not,  however,  receive  holy  com- 
munion only  at  Baptism,  but  they  frequently  afterward 
partdok  of  the  Divine  Repast.  For  it  was  the  custom 
in  many  churches  to  give  communion  to  the  children 
immediately  after  the  clergy,  in  others  to  dispense  to 
them  the  small  fragments  left  over  after  the  communion 
of  the  adults. 

Later  on,  this  custom  became  obsolete  in  the  Latin 
Church.  Neither  were  children  permitted  to  approach 
the  Holy  Table  before  the  dawn  of  the  use  of  reason 
and  before  having  some  knowledge  of  the  August  Sac- 
rament. This  new  discipline,  already  accepted  by 
several  particular  Councils,  was  solemnly  confirmed 
by  the  authority  of  the  Fourth  Lateran  Ecumenical 
Council,  in  1215,  by  promulgating  the  celebrated  Canon 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  ioi 


XXI,  in  which  the  reception  of  the  sacraments  of 
Penance  and  Holy  Eucharist  is  prescribed  to  all  the 
faithful  having  arrived  at  the  use  of  reason  in  the  fol- 
lowing words:  “All  the  faithful  of  both  sexes,  after 
coming  to  the  use  of  reason,  shall  confess  all  their  sins 
alone  to  the  proper  priest  at  least  once  a year,  strive 
to  fulfil  the  enjoined  penance  as  far  as  possible,  de- 
voutly receiving  holy  communion  at  least  at  Easter 
time,  unless  by  the  advice  of  the  priest  and  for  some 
reasonable  cause  he  should  deem  it  well  to  abstain  for 
a while.” 

The  Council  of  Trent,  in  no  way  disapproving  of  the 
ancient  discipline  of  giving  holy  communion  to  children 
before  they  have  attained  the  use  of  reason,  confirmed 
the  Decree  of  the  Lateran  Council  and  pronounced 
anathema  on  those  who  hold  a contrary  opinion.  (Sess. 
xxi,  de  Communione,  c.  4;  Sess.  xiii,  de  Eucharistia , 
c.  8,  can.  9.)  “ If  any  one  shall  deny  that  all  the  faith- 

ful of  both  sexes  who  have  attained  the  use  of  reason 
are  obliged  to  receive  communion  every  year,  at  least 
at  Easter  time,  according  to  the  precepts  of  Holy 
Mother  Church,  let  him  be  anathema.,, 

Therefore,  in  virtue  of  the  aforesaid  Decree  of  the 
Lateran  Council  still  in  force,  the  faithful,  as  soon  as 
they  arrive  at  the  years  of  discretion,  are  obliged  to 
receive  the  sacraments  of  Penance  and  Holy  Eucharist 
at  least  once  a year. 

But  in  establishing  the  year  when  children  come  to 
the  use  of  reason  many  errors  and  deplorable  abuses 
have  crept  in  in  the  course  of  time.  There  are  those 
who  considered  one  age  necessary  for  the  sacrament 
of  Penance,  another  for  Holy  Eucharist.  For  the  sac- 
rament of  Penance  they  judged  that  age  necessary  in 
which  one  can  distinguish  right  from  wrong,  hence  can 
commit  sin;  for  the  Holy  Eucharist,  however,  they 
require  a greater  age  in  which  a deeper  knowledge  of 
matters  of  faith  and  a better  preparation  of  the  soul  can 
be  had.  And  thus,  according  to  the  various  customs 
of  places  and  opinions  of  men,  the  age  of  ten  or  twelve 
years  was  fixed  for  receiving  first  holy  communion  in 


102  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


some  places,  in  others  fourteen  years  and  even  more 
were  required,  in  the  meanwhile  forbidding  all  those 
children  under  the  required  age  from  receiving  holy 
communion. 

This  custom  by  which,  under  the  plea  of  safeguard- 
ing the  respect  due  to  the  August  Sacrament,  the  faith- 
ful were  kept  away  from  the  same,  was  the  cause  of 
many  evils.  It  happened  that  the  innocence  of  child- 
hood, tom  away  from  the  embraces  of  Christ,  was  de- 
prived of  the  sap  of  the  interior  life ; from  which  it  also 
followed  that  youth,  destitute  of  this  strong  help,  sur- 
rounded by  so  many  snares,  having  lost  its  candor,  fell 
into  vice  before  ever  tasting  of  the  Sacred  Mysteries. 
Even  though  a more  thorough  preparation  and  an  accu- 
rate sacramental  confession  should  precede  first  holy 
communion,  which  does  not  happen  everywhere,  yet 
the  loss  of  first  innocence  is  always  to  be  deplored  and 
might  have  been  avoided  by  receiving  the  Holy  Eu- 
charist in  more  tender  years. 

Not  less  to  be  condemned  is  the  custom  which  exists 
in  many  places,  according  to  which  children  are  not 
allowed  to  receive  the  sacrament  of  Penance  before 
they  are  admitted  to  communion,  or  else  absolution  is 
not  given  to  them ; thus  it  happens  that  burdened  per- 
haps with  mortal  sins  they  remain  a long  time  in  great 
danger. 

But  the  worst  of  all  is  that,  in  some  places  children 
not  yet  admitted  to  first  holy  communion  are  not  per- 
mitted to  receive  the  Sacred  Viaticum,  even  when  in 
danger  of  death,  and  thus,  dying  and  being  buried  as 
infants,  they  are  not  helped  by  the  prayers  of  the 
Church. 

Such  injury  is  caused  by  those  who  insist  on  an  ex- 
traordinary preparation  for  first  holy  communion,  more 
than  is  reasonable,  not  realizing  that  this  kind  of  pre- 
caution proceeds  from  the  errors  of  the  Jansenists, 
who  maintain  that  the  Holy  Eucharist  is  a reward,  and 
not  a remedy  for  human  frailty.  The  Council  of  Trent 
holds  a different  opinion  when  it  teaches  that  it  is  “ an 
antidote  by  which  we  are  freed  from  daily  faults  and 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  103 

preserved  from  mortal  sins  ” (Sess.  xiii,  de  Eucharis- 
tia , c.  2),  which  doctrine  has  lately  been  inculcated 
with  greater  stress  by  a Decree  given  on  December  26, 
1905,  in  which  daily  approach  to  communion  is  opened 
to  all,  both  old  and  young,  two  conditions  only  being 
required,  the  state  of  grace  and  a right  intention. 
Neither  does  it  appear  reasonable  that  while  formerly 
even  sucklings  received  the  remnant  of  the  sacred 
particles,  at  present  an  extraordinary  preparation  should 
be  required  from  the  little  children,  who  are  in  the 
happy  state  of  innocence  and  candor,  and  greatly  need 
this  heavenly  food  on  account  of  the  many  temptations 
and  dangers  of  our  times. 

The  abuses  which  we  condemn  may  be  traced  to  the 
fact  that  those  who  demand  a certain  age  for  Penance 
and  another  for  Holy  Eucharist  have  neither  wisely  nor 
rightly  defined  the  required  age.  The  Lateran  Coun- 
cil requires  one  and  the  same  age  for  both  sacraments, 
since  it  imposes  a joint  obligation  of  confession  and 
communion.  Therefore,  since  the  age  of  discretion 
required  for  Penance  is  that  at  which  right  can  be  dis- 
tinguished from  wrong,  namely,  when  one  comes  to 
the  use  of  reason;  so  also  for  Communion  that  age  is 
required  which  can  distinguish  the  Eucharistic  bread 
from  the  common  bread,  which,  in  turn,  is  the  age  at 
which  a child  attains  the  use  of  reason. 

Nor  did  the  principal  interpreters  of  the  Lateran 
Council  and  those  who  lived  at  that  time  think  differ- 
ently. From  the  history  of  the  Church  it  is  evident 
that  many  synods  and  episcopal  decrees,  beginning 
with  the  twrelfth  century,  shortly  after  the  Lateran 
Council,  admitted  children  of  seven  years  of  age  to 
holy  communion.  There  is,  moreover,  a testimony  of 
the  greatest  authority,  St.  Thomas  Aquinas,  which 
reads:  “When  children  begin  to  have  some  use  of 
reason  so  that  they  can  conceive  some  devotion  toward 
the  Sacrament  (Eucharist),  then  this  Sacrament  can 
be  given  to  them.,,  The  same  is  explained  by  Ledesma 
as  follows:  “I  say  with  the  consent  of  all,  that  the 
Holy  Eucharist  should  be  given  to  all  having  the  use 


104  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

of  reason,  no  matter  how  soon  they  may  acquire  the 
same;  even  though  the  child  should  have  but  a con- 
fused idea  of  what  it  is  doing.”  Vasquez  explains  the 
same  passage  in  the  following  words:  “ As  soon  as  a 
child  attains  the  use  of  reason,  it  is  obliged  by  divine 
law  so  that  not  even  the  Church  can  dispense  it  from 
the  same.”  The  same  is  taught  by  St.  Antoninus, 
writing:  “ But  when  a child  is  capable  of  wrong-doing, 
that  is,  of  committing  mortal  sin,  then  he  is  subject  to 
the  precept  of  confession  and  consequently  com- 
munion.” (P.  iii,  tit.  xiv,  c.  2,  p.  5.)  The’ Council 
of  Trent  also  forces  us  to  the  same  conclusion.  For 
whilst  it  declares  that  “ infants,  lacking  the  use  of 
reason,  are  not  obliged  to  receive  holy  communion,”  it 
assigns  as  the  only  reason,  because  they  can  not  com- 
mit sin  (Sess.  xxi,  c.  4):  “ Since,”  it  says,  “ at  that 
age  they  can  not  lose  the  acquired  grace  of  the  children 
of  God.”  From  which  it  is  evident  that  the  Council 
believed  children  obliged  to  receive  communion  as 
soon  as  they  could  lose  grace  by  sin.  The  words  of 
the  Roman  Council,  held  under  Benedict  XIII,  agree 
with  this,  teaching  that  the  obligation  of  receiving  the 
Holy  Eucharist  begins  “ after  boys  and  girls  have  come 
to  the  use  of  reason,  to  that  age,  namely,  in  which  they 
are  capable  of  distinguishing  this  sacramental  food, 
which  is  no  other  than  the  true  body  of  Jesus  Christ, 
from  common  and  profane  bread,  and  know  how  to 
approach  the  same  with  the  required  devotion  and  re- 
ligion.” ( Instruzione  per  quei  che  debbono  la  prima 
volta  ammettersi  alia  S . Communione , append,  xxx, 
p.  ii.)  The  Roman  Catechism,  however,  says:  “ At 
what  age  holy  communion  should  be  given  to  children, 
no  one  can  judge  better  than  the  father  and  the  priest 
to  whom  they  confess  their  sins.  For  theirs  is  the 
duty  to  find  out  and  to  inquire  of  the  children  whether 
they  have  acquired  some  knowledge  of  this  admirable 
sacrament  and  a taste  for  the  same.” 

From  all  this  it  follows  that  the  age  of  discretion  re- 
quired for  holy  communion  is  that  at  which  the  child 
can  distinguish  the  Eucharistic  bread  from  common 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  105 

and  material  bread,  and  know  how  to  approach  the 
altar  with  devotion. 

A perfect  knowledge  of  the  articles  of  faith  is,  there- 
fore, not  necessary,  since  an  elementary  knowledge, 
that  is,  a certain  knowledge , is  sufficient;  nor  is  the 
full  use  of  reason  required,  since  the  beginning  of  the 
use  of  reason,  that  is,  some  kind  of  use  of  reason, 
suffices.  Wherefore,  to  put  off  communion  any  longer 
or  to  exact  a riper  age  for  the  reception  of  the  same  is 
to  be  rejected  absolutely,  and  the  same  has  been  re- 
peatedly condemned  by  the  Holy  See.  Thus  Pius  IX, 
of  happy  memory^  in  the  letters  of  Cardinal  Antonelli 
to  the  Bishops  of  France,  given  on  March  12,  1866, 
severely  condemned  the  growing  custom  existing  in 
some  dioceses  of  putting  off  holy  communion  to  a 
maturer  age,  and  rejected  the  number  of  years  as  fixed 
by  them. 

The  Sacred  Congregation  of  the  Council  of  March  15, 
1851,  corrected  a chapter  of  the  Provincial  Council  of 
Rouen,  in  which  children  under  twelve  years  of  age 
were  forbidden  to  receive  holy  communion.  This  same 
Congregation  of  the  Discipline  of  Sacraments,  acting  in 
a similar  manner  in  a case  proposed  from  Strassburg 
on  March  25,  1910,  in  which,  being  asked  whether 
children  of  twelve  or  fourteen  years  could  be  admitted 
to  holy  communion,  answered:  “Boys  and  girls  are 
to  be  admitted  to  holy  communion  when  they  arrive  at 
the  age  of  discretion  or  attain  the  use  of  reason.” 

Having  seriously  considered  all  these  things,  the 
Sacred  Congregation  on  the  Discipline  of  Sacraments, 
at  a general  meeting  held  on  July  15,  1910,  in  order 
that  the  above-mentioned  abuses  might  be  removed, 
and  the  children  of  tender  years  become  attached  to 
Jesus,  live  His  life,  and  obtain  protection  against  the 
dangers  of  corruption,  has  judged  it  opportune  to  lay 
down  the  following  norm  for  admitting  children  to  first 
holy  communion,  to  be  observed  everywhere : 

I.  The  age  of  discretion  required  both  for  confession 
and  communion  is  the  time  when  the  child  begins  to 
reason,  that  is,  about  the  seventh  year,  sometimes 


io6  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


after,  sometimes  even  before.  From  this  time  on,  the 
obligation  of  satisfying  the  precept  of  both  confession 
and  communion  begins. 

II.  Both  for  first  confession  and  first  communion  a 
complete  and  perfect  knowledge  of  Christian  Doctrine 
is  not  necessary.  The  child  will,  however,  be  obliged 
gradually  to  learn  the  whole  Catechism  according  to 
its  intellectual  ability. 

III.  The  knowledge  of  Christian  Doctrine  required 
in  children  in  order  to  be  properly  prepared  for  first 
holy  communion  is  that  they  understand  according  to 
their  capacity  those  mysteries  of  faith  which  are  neces- 
sary as  a means  of  salvation,  that  they  be  able  to  dis- 
tinguish the  Eucharist  from  common  and  material 
bread,  and  also  approach  the  Sacred  Table  with  the 
devotion  becoming  their  age. 

IV.  The  obligation  of  the  precept  of  confession  and 
communion  which  rests  upon  the  child  falls  back  prin- 
cipally upon  those  in  whose  care  they  are,  that  is, 
parents,  confessors,  teachers,  and  their  pastor.  Accord- 
ing to  the  Roman  Catechism,  it  belongs  to  the  father, 
however,  or  to  the  person  taking  his  place,  as  also  to 
the  confessor,  to  admit  the  child  to  first  holy  com- 
munion. 

V.  The  pastors  shall  take  care  to  announce  and  dis- 
tribute general  communion  once  or  several  times  a 
year  to  the  children,  and  on  these  occasions  they  shall 
admit  not  only  first  communicants  but  also  others,  who, 
with  the  consent  of  their  parents  or  their  confessors, 
have  already  been  admitted  to  the  Sacred  Table  before. 
For  both  classes  several  days  of  instruction  and  prepa- 
ration shall  precede. 

VI.  Those  who  have  the  care  of  children  should  use 
all  diligence  so  that  after  first  communion  the  children 
shall  often  approach  the  Holy  Table,  even  daily  if  pos- 
sible, as  Jesus  Christ  and  Mother  Church  desire,  and 
that  they  do  it  with  a devotion  becoming  their  age. 
They  should  bear  in  mind  their  most  important  duty, 
by  which  they  are  obliged  to  have  the  children  present 
at  the  public  instructions  in  Catechism,  otherwise  they 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  107 

must  supply  this  religious  instruction  in  some  other 
way. 

VII.  The  custom  of  not  admitting  children  to  con- 
fession, or  of  not  absolving  them  when  they  have  at- 
tained the  age  of  reason,  is  absolutely  condemned. 
Wherefore  the  Ordinaries  of  places,  using  those  means 
which  the  law  gives  them,  shall  see  that  it  is  done  away 
with. 

VIII.  It  is  an  utterly  detestable  abuse  not  to  ad- 
minister Viaticum  and  Extreme  Unction  to  children 
having  attained  the  use  of  reason,  and  to  bury  them 
according  to  the  manner  of  infants.  The  Ordinaries  of 
places  shall  proceed  severely  against  those  who  do  not 
abandon  this  custom. 

All  these  resolutions  of  the  Eminent  Fathers,  the 
Cardinals  of  this  Sacred  Congregation,  have  been  ap- 
proved by  Our  Most  Holy  Father  Pope  Pius  X in  an 
audience  given  on  the  seventh  day  of  the  current  month, 
and  he  has  commanded  the  present  Decree  to  be  edited 
and  promulgated. 

Given  in  Rome  at  the  residence  of  the  same  Sacred 
Congregation  on  the  eighth  day  of  August,  1910. 

D.  Card.  Ferrata,  Prefect . 

Ph.  Guistini,  Secretary . 


Chapter  21 

©n  tbe  power  TPUbicb  HoIe  Communion  THas 
to  Sanctify  TUs 

PIT.  FRANCIS  DE  SALES  wrote  as  follows:  “ I am 
only  speaking  of  perfection,  but  I perceive  very 
few  who  practice  it.  Every  one  understands  it  in  his 
own  way.  Some  make  it  to  consist  in  simplicity  of 
attire,  others  in  austerity  of  life;  these  in  almsgiving, 
those  in  frequenting  the  sacraments,  in  meditation,  con- 
templation, etc.  For  myself,  I know  no  other  perfec- 
tion than  that  of  loving  God  with  one’s  whole  heart, 
and  one’s  neighbor  as  oneself.”  This  is  why  St.  Augus- 
tine exclaims:  “ Ama  et  fac  quod  vis — “ Love  and 


io8  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


do  what  you  will.”  In  fact,  in  the  case  of  any  one  who 
loves  God  above  everything,  his  love  teaches  him  to 
avoid  whatever  is  displeasing  to  God,  and  to  do  what- 
ever pleases  Him. 

If  once  we  admit  this  truth,  who  can  doubt  that  the 
Holy  Eucharist,  if  worthily  received,  has  power  to 
kindle  the  soul  with  the  fire  of  divine  love ? “I  am 
come  to  cast  fire  on  the  earth,”  the  Saviour  says, 
“ and  what  will  I but  that  it  be  kindled  ? ” 1 By  what 
means  does  Jesus  prove  to  us  His  love,  and  how  does 
He  impart  it  to  us  ? By  holy  communion.  Our  Divine 
Saviour  teaches  us  that  He  came  to  give  us  life,  and 
life  abundantly.  What  is  this  life  but  the  life  of  the 
soul,  the  life  of  the  love  of  God  in  us  ? “ Jesus  Christ,” 

says  a pious  writer,  “ by  giving  Himself  to  us  in  the 
Holy  Eucharist,  teaches  us  the  secret  of  this  life  of  love, 
and  renders  the  practice  of  it  easy.  To  live  by  love  is 
not  merely  to  love,  but  also  to  be  loved ; and  this  mutual 
love  of  God  and  of  the  soul  is  the  fruit  of  holy  com- 
munion.” 

When,  Christian  soul,  you  go  to  communion,  you 
bve  Jesus  Christ,  and  He  loves  you;  you  abide  in 
Him  and  He  in  you.  He  Himself  has  said:  “ He  that 
eateth  My  flesh  and  drinketh  My  blood,  abideth  in  Me 
and  I in  him.,,  2 

“ All  you  who  are  eager  for  love,  and  who  spend 
your  affections  on  created  objects,  and  who  crave  for 
some  amount  of  love  at  least,  from  all  who  surround  you, 
if  love  is  the  life  of  your  heart,  lift  up  your  hearts,  Stir- 
sum  cor  da;  love  God  and  beseech  Him  to  love  you; 
seek  life  at  its  source;  communicate,  and  you  will  be 
loved  with  an  infinite  love.  This  love  of  God  increases 
and  becomes  perfect,  but  it  may  also  fade  away.  Jesus 
Christ  increases  and  strengthens  it  in  the  soul  of  the 
Christian  who  receives  Him.  He  speaks  to  his  heart, 
comforts  and  instructs  him,  shows  him  good  things 

1 Ignem  veni  mittere  in  terram;  et  quid  volo,  nisi  ut  ac- 
cendatur.  — Luc.  xii.  1,9. 

2 Qui  manducat  meam  carnem  et  bibit  meam  sanguinem, 
in  me  manet  et  ego  in  illo.  — Joan.  vi.  57. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  109 

which  the  eye  has  not  seen,  nor  the  ear  heard,  nor  the 
heart  of  man  ever  enjoyed.  . . . You  will  perhaps 
say : ‘ I go  to  communion,  X endeavor  to  do  so  with 
all  the  dispositions  which  are  requisite,  but  I do  not 
experience  these  happy  results.*  This  may  be;  but 
you  live  the  life  of  grace  which  communion  imparts, 
you  grow  in  God’s  sight  as  a child  grows,  unconsciously. 
You  are  rich  in  all  the  gifts  of  grace,  but  you  want  to 
see  and  feel  this!  God  conceals  your  merits  from  you 
in  order  to  keep  you  humble. 

“ Yet,  faithful  soul,  if  you  grow  weary  in  the  path  of 
virtue,  if  you  no  longer  walk  in  it  with  a light  and  joyous 
step,  as  you  did  formerly,  go  to  Jesus  Christ,  receive 
Him  in  holy  communion,  and  you  will  feel  your  courage 
revive.  If  the  numerous  faults  you  have  committed 
weigh  upon  you,  go  to  communion,  for  ‘ the  Eucha- 
rist,’ as  the  Council  of  Trent  says,  ‘ should  be  received 
as  an  antidote  whereby  we  may  be  freed  from  daily 
faults  and  preserved  from  mortal  sins.’  Does  the 
length  of  the  struggle  weary  you  ? ‘ If  any  one  is 

fainting  from  exhaustion,’  says  St.  Lawrence  Justin- 
ian, ‘let  him  receive  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ  with 
faith  and  love,  and  he  will  immediately  regain  fresh 
strength.’  Perhaps  exterior  occupations,  the  cares 
and  worries  of  life,  dissipate  your  mind,  obscure  your 
spiritual  sight,  and  repress  the  thought  of  your  eternal 
salvation.  ‘ Approach  the  Holy  Table,’  says  St.  John 
Chrysostom,  ‘ this  source  of  light  will  enlighten  you, 
and  teach  you  to  understand  what  is,  in  truth,  the  one 
thing  necessary.’ 

“ The  aridity  in  which  you  live  as  in  a desert  is  per- 
haps the  cause  of  your  laxity.  Remember  what 
happened  to  the  prophet  Elias,  when  he  was  fleeing  be- 
fore Jezabel;  like  him  arise  and  eat ; not  the  bread  pre- 
pared by  the  angel,  but  the  Eucharistic  bread,  and  you 
will  regain  your  strength.  Perhaps  the  liberty  you 
have  given  to  your  senses  has  diminished  your  love 
for  God.  In  this  case  give  up  at  once  everything  which 
has  removed  you  to  a distance  from  Him,  and  have 
recourse  to  the  Holy  Eucharist.  It  is  the  live  coal 


no  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


which  a seraph  took  off  the  altar,  and  which,  placed 
within  your  heart,  will  consume  your  infidelities,  in- 
flame your  soul,  and  transform  it  into  God  Himself. 
Finally,  from  whatever  source  your  weakness  and  the 
other  diseases  of  your  soul  may  proceed,  have  recourse 
to  this  remedy,  it  will  heal  you  and  sanctify  you.” 

St.  Mary  Magdalen  de  Pazzi  was  deeply  pained  to 
witness  the  want  of  reverence  wherewith  communion 
was  regarded,  and  she  was  distressed  to  see  how  rarely 
the  Holy  Table  was  approached.  She  used  to  say: 
“ I certainly  believe  that  one  communion,  if  made  aright, 
is  capable  of  raising  the  soul  to  a height  of  perfection.” 


Chapter  22 

Zb c ITmportance  of  frequent  Communion 

DO  not  know,”  St.  Teresa  says,  “ a more  power- 
ful means  of  sanctification  than  frequent  com- 


munion. To  speak  in  general,  the  more  frequently 
persons  communicate,  the  more  progress  they  make  in 
the  way  of  perfection.” 

In  order  to  emphasize  this  doctrine,  we  might  ad- 
duce various  facts;  we  will  quote  two  only.  We  read 
in  the  life  of  St.  Margaret  of  Cortona  that  this  illus- 
trious penitent  frequently  approached  the  Eucharistic 
Table  because  her  confessor  had  advised  her  to  do  so; 
Our  Lord  revealed  to  him  that  it  was  a real  joy  to  Him 
to  give  Himself  to  her  in  the  Sacrament,  and  that  He 
would  richly  reward  the  confessor  who  had  given  her 
this  good  advice.  The  Saviour  one  day  complained  to 
St.  Gertrude  of  those  who  are  the  means  of  preventing 
souls  from  approaching  the  Holy  Table.  “ My  de- 
lights,” He  said,  “ were  to  be  with  the  children  of 
men,”  and  it  is  for  them  that  I instituted  the  Holy 
Sacrament.”  Those  who  hinder  souls  from  receiving 
communion  frequently  cause  Our  Lord  displeasure. 
“ They  do  the  work  of  the  devil,  who  has  an  implacable 
hatred  to  the  divine  Sacrament.”  Such  are  the  words 
of  the  Venerable  John  of  Avila. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  hi 


Go  to  communion,  Christian  souls,  as  often  as  pos- 
sible; Jesus  Christ  invites  you  to  do  so,  Holy  Church 
enjoins  it  upon  you,  and  all  the  saints  counsel  it. 

Jesus  wishes  to  see  you  communicate  frequently. 
When  instituting  the  sacrament  of  the  Eucharist,  He 
said  to  His  apostles:  “ With  desire  I have  desired  to 
eat  this  pasch  with  you  and  to  give  Myself  to  you  in 
order  to  be  your  food.,,  “ In  order  to  attract  you  to 
frequent  communion,”  says  a pious  missionary,  “ Jesus 
presents  Himself  to  you  under  the  species  of  bread 
and  wine,  as  if  to  prove  to  you  that  His  flesh  and  blood 
are  not  less  indispensable  for  the  life  and  food  of  your 
soul  than  ordinary  food  and  drink  are  for  the  support 
of  your  body.  Now,  as  you  eat  and  drink  every  day 
in  order  to  feed  and  strengthen  your  body,  does  not 
Our  Lord  give  you  to  understand  that  He  desires  to 
see  you  every  day  at  the  Holy  Table,  in  order  to 
strengthen  and  maintain  the  life  of  your  soul  ? And  in 
order  to  make  this  more  clearly  understood,  He  com- 
pares the  Eucharist  to  the  manna  with  which  the 
Israelites  were  fed  day  by  day  in  the  desert.  He  wishes 
you  to  ask  of  Him  day  by  day  your  daily  bread.  Now 
by  the  bread  in  question  He  does  not  merely  signify 
material  food,  but  He  once  again  alludes  to  the  Eucha- 
ristic bread.  Could  this  loving  Saviour  speak  more 
plainly  in  order  to  induce  us  to  communicate  fre- 
quently ? ” 

Our  Lord  said  upon  one  occasion  to  Marie  Lataste : 
“ My  child,  holy  communion  is  the  greatest  action  which 
it  is  in  the  power  of  man  to  perform,  because  it  is  that 
which  honors  Me  the  most,  and  is  most  pleasing  to  God. 
One  single  communion  is  enough  to  enrich  a man  for 
ever.  It  is  holy  communion  which  gives  courage  and 
strength  to  climb  to  the  summit  of  the  mount  of  per- 
fection; it  is  holy  communion  which  sustains  in  the 
midst  of  struggles.  A director  ought  to  take  care  to 
make  the  souls  he  directs,  receive  frequently  this  anti- 
dote against  sin,  this  efficacious  remedy  against  every 
kind  of  disease,  this  food  of  the  strong,  which  causes 
all  weakness  to  disappear.  How  can  weakness  be 


1 12  . INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


supported  unless  it  draws  from  the  source  of  strength  ? 
How  can  sinful  man  walk  in  the  way  of  justice  if  he 
fails  to  take  the  remedy  against  sin  ? ” 

Holy  Church  invites  us  in  similar  terms.  We  have 
quoted  on  a preceding  page  the  words  of  the  holy  Coun- 
cil of  Trent  as  well  as  the  expressions  of  the  Roman 
Catechism  concerning  frequent  communion.1 

The  saints  advocate  frequent  communion;  all  the 
saints  of  the  New  Law  were  sanctified  by  the  frequent 
reception  of  holy  communion,  and  they  all  recommend 
it  as  the  one  great  means  of  salvation.  Let  us  quote 
the  words  of  two  or  three  of  their  number: 

“ It  is  from  holy  communion,”  says  St.  John  Chrys- 
ostom, “ that  the  martyrs  drew  the  superhuman 
strength  which  enabled  them  to  defy  the  fury  of  earthly 
potentates  and  of  devils.”  “ It  is  in  communion,”  St. 
Cyprian  tells  us,  “ that  confessors  found  the  heroic 
courage  which  enabled  them  to  set  at  naught  with 
dauntless  intrepidity  the  threats  of  the  powers  of  this 
world.  It  is  by  frequent  communion  that  virgins  have 
raised  themselves  to  that  height  of  angelic  purity 
which  excites  the  admiration  of  heaven  and  earth.” 
“ It  is  by  frequent  communion,”  says  the  author  we 
have  quoted  above,  “ that  so  many  of  the  faithful  living 
in  the  world  have  become  virtuous  artisans,  honest 
tradesmen,  faithful  husbands,  watchful  parents,  dis- 
interested judges;  it  makes  the  rich  charitable,  the 
poor  contented  with  their  lot.” 

We  might  have  cited  the  words  of  St.  Charles  Bor- 
romeo,  St.  Philip  Neri,  St.  Vincent  de  Paul,  St.  Alphon- 
sus  Liguori,  and  several  other  saints  of  these  latter 
days.  But  it  seems  to  us  that  we  have  said  enough, 
and  we  will  conclude  this  chapter  in  the  words  of  the 
gentle  St.  Francis  de  Sales : “ Two  classes  of  persons 
ought  to  communicate  frequently  — saints,  and  those 

1 We  have  added  to  Chapter  XIX,  in  which  these  quota- 
tions are  contained,  an  Extract  from  the  famous  Decree  con- 
cerning daily  communion  issued  at  Rome  by  the  Sacred 
Congregation  of  the  Council  on  the  20th  day  of  December, 
1905.  Vide  page  99.  — Editor . 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  113 

who  are  not  saints  as  yet;  saints,  in  order  to  keep 
themselves  in  the  love  of  God,  and  those  who  are  not, 
in  order  to  become  saints.” 


Chapter  23 

Qn  tbe  pretexts  /Ifcanp  Christians  put  fforwarb 
as  a IReason  for  not  Bpproacblna  tbe  Mol# 
Cable 

IN  the  parable  of  those  who  refuse  to  go  to  the  feast, 
Jesus  Christ  shows  us  the  reasons  for  which  a 
large  number  of  Christians  keep  aloof  from  the  Holy 
Table.  “ The  Church,”  says  Dom  Gueranger,  “ had 
chosen  this  parable  for  the  second  Sunday  after  Pente- 
cost long  before  the  feast  of  Corpus  Christi  was  in- 
stituted.” . By  keeping  it  for  the  Sunday  within  the 
octave  of  this  great  solemnity  she  applies  it  to  those 
who  hold  aloof  from  communion.  This  parable  is  com- 
posed of  two  parts.  What  does  the  first  teach  us  ? 

“ A certain  man,”  Our  Lord  says,  “ made  a great 
supper  and  invited  many.  And  he  sent  his  servant  at 
the  hour  of  supper  to  say  to  them  that  were  invited 
that  they  should  come,  for  now  all  things  are  ready. 
And  they  began  all  at  once  to  make  excuse.  The  first 
said  to  him:  I have  bought  a farm,  and  I must  needs 
go  out  and  see  it;  I pray  thee  hold  me  excused.  And 
another  said,  I have  bought  five  yoke  of  oxen,  and  I 
go  to  try  them;  I pray  thee,  hold  me  excused.  And 
another  said:  I have  married  a wife  and  therefore  I 
cannot  come.”  1 

“ This  parable,”  says  Father  Monsabre,  “ is  easy  to 
explain.  In  Jesus  Christ  you  see  the  father  of  a family, 
the  master  of  the  house,  who  prepares  a feast.  His 
feast  is  great  — Coenam  magnam  — Great  because  of 
the  dignity  of  Him  Who  invites  — He  is  more  than  a 
king,  He  is  a God;  great  because  of  the  number  of  the 
guests  — the  whole  human  race  is  invited;  great  be- 
cause of  the  aliments  which  are  served  at  this  repast 
1 Luke  xiv. 


1 14  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


— the  flesh  and  blood  of  a God;  great  because  of  the 
effects  which  it  produces  — it  unites  us  intimately  to 
Jesus  Christ,  and  causes  us  to  live  in  Him.  The  serv- 
ant who  was  sent  to  issue  the  invitations  of  his  master 
is  the  Church;  all  Christians  are  the  invited  guests. 
All  the  vain  pretexts  indicated  by  Jesus  Christ  in  this 
parable  are  to  be  met  with  in  our  day  in  the  mouth  of 
indifferent  Christians.” 

“ Viliam  emi  ” — “I  have  bought  a country  house, 
I must  needs  go  and  see  it.”  “ It  is,  in  the  first  place,” 
proceeds  the  same  orator,  “ ambition,  the  desire  of 
aggrandizement,  which  keeps  people  away  from  the 
Holy  Table.  They  might  live  quietly  and  be  respected 
in  a humble  position,  but  they  imagine  that  they  ought 
to  be  somebody;  they  long  to  be  counted  among 
prominent  persons,  they  desire  to  attain  — whatever 
be  the  cost  — an  exalted  position,  from  which  they 
can  contemplate  ordinary  mortals  prostrate  at  their  feet. 
They  dream;  they  become  preoccupied;  they  condemn 
themselves  to  commit  mean  actions,  to  defections  from 
their  principles,  in  order  to  obtain  some  cheap  decora- 
tion, or  some  petty  post  under  government. 

“ They  get  the  better  of  their  competitors  by  dis- 
honest means,  they  envy  those  who  succeed,  they  hate 
those  who  surpass  them.  Go,  therefore,  and  say  to 
these  ambitious  men:  God  has  prepared  a great  feast 
for  you,  delay  not  to  take  your  place  at  the  Holy  Table. 
Have  they  time  to  quit  the  banquet  at  which  their 
pride  is  gratified  ? Do  they  not  know  that  in  order  to 
approach  the  Holy  Table  it  is  necessary  to  give  up 
their  dreams,  to  stifle  the  passionate  longings  which 
are  consuming  them,  to  abjure  their  hatreds  and  envy- 
ings?  You  are  simpletons,  O ministers  of  Jesus 
Christ,  when  you  invite  such  men  as  these  to  com- 
municate! Excuse  them,  O my  God!  In  order  to 
cease  from  offending  Thee,  and  to  receive  Thee  in 
holy  communion,  these  unhappy  men  have  not  as  yet 
what  is  necessary  in  order  to  do  so. 

“ ‘ Juga  bovum  quinque  emi 9 — 4 1 have  bought  five 
yoke  of  oxen  and  I go  to  try  them.’  This  is  another 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  115 

class  of  Christians  better  disposed  than  the  former, 
but  they  are  led  captive  by  ordinary  occupations.  God 
certainly  does  not  forbid  a reasonable  attention  to 
temporal  interests;  but  how  many  are  led  captive  by 
that  eager  desire  for  the  goods  of  this  world  which 
paralyzes  the  powers  of  the  soul.  This  man  ought  to 
be  contented  with  the  goods  he  possesses  already,  and 
live  in  peace  in  the  position  assigned  to  him  by  Provi- 
dence. He  wishes  to  surpass  every  one  around  him. 
He  wears  out  his  strength,  the  powers  of  his  mind,  in 
toil  of  a nature  so  engrossing  as  to  deprive  him  of  all 
love  for  the  things  of  God.  Tell  such  a man  that  he  is 
possessed  by  the  demon  of  avarice.  Say  to  him,  ‘ A 
great  supper  has  been  prepared,  go  and  take  your 
place  at  the  table,  the  invitations  of  the  father  of  the 
family  are  urgent,  etc.’  He  has  no  leisure,  he  has 
bought  five  yoke  of  oxen  and  must  needs  go  and  try 
them.  It  will  be  time  enough  to  reconcile  himself 
with  the  Lord  and  present  himself  at  the  Holy  Table 
when  he  is  unable  to  work  any  longer,  or  when  he  is 
on  his  death  bed.  God  knows  what  we  ought  to  think 
of  the  excuses  which  keep  so  many  people  away  from 
holy  communion. 

“ ‘ Uxorem  duxi f — * I have  lately  married,’  says  a 
third,  ‘ and  therefore  I cannot  go  to  this  supper.’  Jesus 
Christ  does  not  speak  of  Christian  marriage,  of  lawful 
marriage,  which  is  not  an  obstacle  to  the  reception  of 
the  Holy  Eucharist.  But  He  specifies  that  passionate 
attachment  of  a soul  to  earthly  things  which  causes 
them  to  become,  so  to  speak,  part  of  herself,  of  her 
very  being.  Sometimes  it  is  a piece  of  property  wrong- 
fully acquired,  which  a man  will  not  relinquish:  or 
fraudulent  practices  which  can  not  be  broken  off ; some 
lucrative  situation  where  he  remains,  although  he  has 
frequently  to  act  much  against  the  dictates  of  his  Con- 
science. Sometimes  it  is  a shameful  passion,  the 
yoke  of  which  a man  can  not  shake  off ; or  some  illicit 
connection  which  he  chooses  to  keep  up.” 

Such  are  the  futile  excuses  which  cause  a great  num- 
ber of  Christians  to  keep  away  from  the  Holy  Table. 


n6  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


Unhappy  sinners,  who  turn  a deaf  ear  when  the  minis- 
ters of  Jesus  Christ  urge  you  in  His  name  to  come 
to  the  Eucharistic  Banquet,  do  you  not  fear  the  God 
Who  invites  you?  What  do  you  consider  to  be  of  the 
same  importance  as  the  reception  of  the  body  and 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ?  Some  wretched,  fleeting 
honor,  some  petty  gain,  some  degrading  amusement! 
And  you  think  that  the  gentleness  of  the  Lamb  of  God 
will  not  turn  into  the  wrath  of  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of 
Juda!  Follow  with  us  the  course  of  this  parable,  and 
you  will  discover  what  is  the  wretched  fate  reserved 
for  those  who  obstinately  refuse  to  approach  the  Holy 
Table. 


Chapter  24 

On  the  3ust  Chastisements  IReserreD  for  {Those 
Wiho  5)o  not  0o  to  Communion 

HE  first  part  of  this  parable  has  shown  us  the 
VS)  three  chief  causes  which  keep  persons  away 
from  holy  communion  — ambition,  the  inordinate  love 
of  riches,  and  sensuality.  The  second  part  will  ac- 
quaint us  with  the  unhappy  fate  reserved  for  those  who 
despise  the  gracious  invitation  of  the  father  of  the 
family. 

“ And  the  servant  returning,”  continues  the  Gospel, 
“ told  these  things  to  his  lord.  Then  the  master  of 
the  house  being  angry,  said  to  his  servant:  Go  out 
quickly  into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  bring 
in  hither  the  poor  and  the  feeble,  and  the  lame  and 
the  blind.  And  the  servant  said : Lord,  it  is  done  as 
thou  hast  commanded,  and  yet  there  is  room.  And 
the  Lord  said  to  the  servant:  Go  out  quickly  into  the 
highways  and  hedges,  and  compel  them  to  come  in, 
that  my  house  may  be  filled.  But  I say  unto  you  that 
none  of  those  men  that  were  invited,  shall  taste  of  my 
supper.”  1 

The  master  of  the  house,  seeing  that  his  invitation 
1 Luke  xiv. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  117 

was  despised,  became  angry.  Nothing  is  more  to  be 
dreaded  than  the  anger  which  results  from  slighted 
affection.  The  Son  of  God,  having  been  born  in  a 
stable,  spent  thirty-three  years  on  earth,  and  died  on 
the  tree  of  shame ; when  about  to  return  to  His  Father, 
He  devised  a means  of  remaining  in  our  midst  in  the 
Holy  Eucharist,  in  order  to  be  our  companion  and  our 
food  during  our  exile  upon  earth;  and  should  man  be 
at  liberty  to  withhold  his  affection  from  a God  Who  is 
so  infinitely  good?  Should  he  be  permitted  to  refuse 
with  impunity  the  pressing  invitation  of  the  Saviour, 
Who  urges  him  to  feed  upon  His  body  and  blood? 
“ Go  out  quickly,”  said  the  master  of  the  house,  being 
angry,  “ into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city  and  bring 
in  hither  the  poor  and  the  feeble,  the  lame  and  the 
blind.”  As  for  you,  the  fortunate  ones  of  this  world, 
satiate  yourselves  with  fleeting  honors,  possess  and 
spend  your  riches,  enjoy  your  pleasures;  you  shall  have 
no  part  in  my  celestial  banquet.  Bring  me  those  whom 
you  meet  first  — the  poor,  and  I will  enrich  them;  the 
sick,  and  I will  heal  them;  the  blind,  and  I will  restore 
their  sight;  the  lame,  and  I will  make  them  walk 
straight. 

“ And  the  servant  said:  Lord,  it  is  done  as  thou 
hast  commanded,  and  yet  there  is  room.  And  the 
Lord  said  to  the  servant:  Go  out  into  the  highways 
and  hedges,  and  bring  hither  all  that  you  shall  find. 
Force  those  to  come  in  who  make  any  resistance; 
force  them  to  come  in,  press  them  to  come  in  ( Compelle 
intrare ),  that  my  house  may  be  filled.” 

Slighted  affection  turns  into  loathing  of  him  who  has 
repelled  it;  and  if  it  meets  with  an  affectionate  heart 
which  reciprocates  its  love,  it  is  consoled,  and  spares 
nothing  in  order  to  enrich  this  heart  with  its  choicest 
favors. 

In  this  manner  does  Our  Lord  act  in  the  Holy  Eucha- 
rist. When  He  sees  Himself  despised,  forgotten, 
neglected  by  souls  whom  He  has  favored  in  a special 
mariner  in  regard  to  fortune,  intelligence,  Christian 
education,  etc.,  by  souls  who  ought  to  glow  with  love 


n8  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


and  gratitude  in  return  for  all  His  benefits,  and  visit 
Him  frequently  in  the  sacrament  of  His  love,  what 
does  He  do?  He  gives  them  up  to  their  depraved 
sense,  and  bestows  His  choicest  graces  elsewhere. 
The  poor,  the  ignorant,  humble  mothers  of  families, 
simple  shepherds,  will  take  their  place  at  the  Holy 
Table;  they  will  become  the  favorites  of  the  Saviour; 
He  even  frequently  reveals  to  them  secrets  which  He 
conceals  from  the  wise  and  powerful.  “ I confess  to 
Thee,  O Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  because 
Thou  hast  hid  these  things  from  the  wise  and  prudent, 
and  hast  revealed  them  to  little  ones.”  1 

“ You  think,”  says  a celebrated  preacher,  addressing 
himself  to  those  who  absent  themselves  from  the  Holy 
Table,  “ that  later  on  you  can  withdraw  your  refusal. 
Listen  then  to  the  words  of  the  Master:  ‘ None  of  those 
men  that  were  invited  shall  taste  of  My  supper .*  Our 
Lord  will  not  repulse  them,  if  they  present  themselves, 
but  there  is  every  reason  to  fear  that  they  will  fail  to 
present  themselves.  For  the  fault  of  those  who  volun- 
tarily absent  themselves  from  communion  will  turn 
into  their  punishment.  The  deprivation  of  the  celes- 
tial manna  will  be  the  just  punishment  of  those  who 
have  despised  it,  a punishment  all  the  more  terrible 
because  they  will  be  unconscious  of  it.  Because  they 
have  not  heeded  His  pressing  invitations,  God  will 
strike  them  with  insensibility ; they  will  forfeit  all  the 
blessings  of  which  the  Eucharist  is  the  fertile  source, 
and  they  will  not  regret  them. 

“ They  will  not  have  any  life  within  them,  and  they 
will  not  wish  to  have  any.  They  will  be  dead  to  the 
grace  of  God,  and  they  will  not  be  aware  of  this.  They 
will  have  lost  all  claim  to  enter  heaven,  and  they  will 
not  grieve  on  this  account.  Their  soul,  deprived  of 
the  food  which  would  have  sustained  it,  will  sink  into 
a lethargic  condition,  which  it  will  not  endeavor  to 
shake  off,  but  in  which  it  will  remain  until  its  last  hour! 

“The  death  of  those  unhappy  souls  will  only  too 
closely  resemble  their  life.  The  anger  and  the  threats 
1 Matt.  xi.  25. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  119 

of  the  Father  of  the  family  arouse  the  gravest  appre- 
hensions as  to  their  salvation.  When  they  are  on  the 
point  of  leaving  this  world,  they  may  perhaps  desire  to 
receive  the  Holy  Viaticum,  but  will  this  privilege  be 
granted  to  them  ? Will  not  God  punish  them  for  their 
guilty  and  protracted  persistence  in  absenting  them- 
selves from  communion?  At  the  moment  when  they 
wish  to  receive  it,  will  a priest  be  found  to  bring  to 
them  the  Holy  Eucharist  ? In  their  extremity  will  they 
not  be  heard  to  utter  the  melancholy  exclamation  of  the 
prodigal,  ‘ Hie  fame  pereo 9 — ‘I  perish  with  hunger 9 ? 99 
If,  Christian  soul,  you  desire  to  avoid  such  a misfor- 
tune as  this,  if  you  wish  to  make  your  salvation  sure, 
go  to  communion,  and  that  frequently. 


Chapter  25 

©n  preparation  tor  Ibolg  Communion 

^^*HE  Decree  on  Daily  Communion  issued  in  the 
\z)  pontificate  of  Pius  X says:  “ Although  it  is  more 
expedient  that  those  who  communicate  frequently  or 
daily  should  be  free  from  venial  sins,  especially  from 
such  as  are  fully  deliberate,  and  from  any  affection 
thereto,  nevertheless  it  is  sufficient  that  they  be  free 
from  mortal  sin,  with  the  purpose  of  never  sinning 
mortally  in  future ; and,  if  they  have  this  sincere  pur- 
pose, it  is  impossible  but  that  daily  communicants 
should  gradually  emancipate  themselves  from  even 
venial  sins,  and  from  all  affection  thereto. 

“ But  whereas  the  sacraments  of  the  New  Law, 
though  they  take  effect  ex  opere  operato , nevertheless 
produce  a greater  effect  in  proportion  as  the  disposi- 
tions of  the  recipient  are  better;  therefore,  care  is  to 
be  taken  that  holy  communion  be  preceded  by  serious 
preparation,  and  followed  by  a suitable  thanksgiving 
according  to  each  one’s  strength,  circumstances,  and 
duties.” 

Let  us  now  see  how  we  ought  to  prepare  ourselves 
for  holy  communion. 


120  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

Why  do  so  many  souls,  after  frequent  communions, 
make  so  little  progress  in  sanctity  and  perfection? 
“ The  fault,”  says  a learned  cardinal,  “ is  not  in  the 
food,  but  in  him  who  takes  it  without  proper  disposi- 
tions.” 

“ Let  no  one,”  says  St.  Alphonsus  Liguori,  “ say 
that  the  fault  lies  with  holy  communion,  but  with  the 
want  of  preparation  in  him  who  receives  it.  Dry  wood, 
when  brought  into  contact  with  fire,  is  easily  kindled, 
but  green  wood  resists  the  flame  because  it  is  not  in 
the  condition  necessary  in  order  to  burn.  The  saints 
profited  greatly  by  their  communions,  because  they 
had  a heartfelt  desire  to  make  a thorough  preparation 
before  presenting  themselves  to  receive  Jesus  Christ.” 

What,  then,  ought  you  to  do,  Christian  soul,  before 
receiving  holy  communion?  It  can  be  stated  in  a few 
words.  You  ought  to  arouse  within  yourself  lively 
sentiments  of  faith  in  the  real  presence  of  Jesus  Christ 
in  the  Eucharist;  humble  yourself  profoundly,  recall 
to  mind  what  Our  Lord  did  and  suffered  for  you,  and 
finally  consider  with  what  love  He  gives  Himself  to 
you. 

(i)  In  the  first  place,  have  a lively  faith;  on  the  day 
preceding  your  communion,  you  ought  to  say  to  your- 
self: What  am  I about  to  do  to-morrow?  I am  going 
to  communicate;  that  is  to  say,  I am  about  to  receive 
the  body,  blood,  soul,  and  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ! 
How  happy  I should  be  if  the  Blessed  Virgin  deigned 
to  appear  to  me,  holding  the  Infant  Jesus  in  her  arms! 
Happier  still  should  I esteem  myself  if  she  permitted 
me  to  hold  Him  for  a few  brief  moments.  But  to- 
morrow, to-day,  perhaps  almost  immediately,  I shall 
feed  upon  His  sacred  flesh,  I shall  quench  my  thirst 
in  His  most  precious  blood.  No  deception  is  possible 
on  this  point;  my  faith  says  to  me,  “ This  is  the  body 
of  Jesus  Christ;  this  is  His  blood.”  If  I did  not  ad- 
mit this  truth,  I should  be  a heretic.  I firmly  believe, 
O Jesus,  that  Thou  art  present  in  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

Faith  is  very  pleasing  to  Our  Lord,  and  believing 
souls  are  always  beloved  by  this  gracious  Master. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  121 


Remember  the  faith  of  the  woman  in  the  Gospel,  who 
said,  “ If  I shall  touch  only  His  garment,  I shall  be 
healed.”  Recall  to  mind  the  faith  of  the  woman  of 
Canaan.  Our  Lord  said  to  her:  “ O woman,  great  is 
thy  faith,  be  it  done  to  thee  as  thou  wilt.”  — “ O mulier , 
magna  est  fides  tua .”  Your  faith,  Christian  soul, 
ought  to  be  directed  to  the  various  mysteries  in  the 
life  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  If  you  go  to  communion 
at  Christmas,  think  of  the  Infant  Jesus.  At  Passion- 
tide  remember  His  sufferings ; at  Easter  reflect  upon 
His  triumph  and  Resurrection.  At  the  Ascension,  at 
All  Saints,  adore  Jesus  glorious  in  heaven.  The  crib, 
Nazareth,  the  Cenacle,  Calvary,  the  tomb  of  the  Saviour, 
the  Mount  of  Olives,  are  for  believing  souls  all  comprised 
in  the  tabernacle.  Yes,  all  this  is  to  be  found  in  the  tab- 
ernacle! It  is  there  that  we  must  seek  Jesus  while  we 
remain  on  earth,  if  we  desire  to  behold  Him  in  heaven 
face  to  face,  after  our  death. 

(2)  Then  humble  yourself  profoundly,  after  having 
reminded  yourself  that  it  is  Jesus  Christ  Whom  you 
are  about  to  receive.  Ought  you  not  to  exclaim,  “ Who 
am  I,  that  the  Son  of  God  should  condescend  to  come 
to  me  ? What  have  I done,  to  deserve  such  a favor  ? ” 

“ If,”  says  the,  author  of  the  “ Imitation,”  “ you  had 
the  purity  of  an  angel  and  the  sanctity  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  you  would  not  be  worthy  to  receive  this  Sacra- 
ment.” “ Only  a God,”  says  St.  Alphonsus  Liguori, 
“ is  worthy  to  receive  a God.”  Therefore  say  to  this 
infinitely  great  God,  “ Lord,  I am  not  worthy  that  Thou 
shouldst  enter  under  my  roof,  for  I am  poor  and  worth- 
less! My  God,  I have  been  unhappy  enough  to  rebel 
against  Thee ; depart  from  me,  for  I am  a sinful  man. 
Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
cleanse  my  soul  from  every  stain,  and  make  me  some- 
what less  unworthy  to  receive  Thee.” 

The  more  you  humble  yourself  in  the  presence  of 
Our  Lord,  WTio  gives  Himself  to  you,  the  more  will 
you  draw  down  His  graces  upon  you.  This  God,  Who 
annihilates  Himself  in  the  Eucharist,  holds  the  proud  in 
abhorrence  and  reserves  His  favors  for  the  humble. 


122  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


You  can,  therefore,  never  humble  yourself  too  deeply 
in  the  presence  of  a God  so  infinitely  great,  Who 
humbled  Himself  for  your  sake  unto  the  death  upon 
the  cross,  and  Who  comes  to  you  under  the  appearance 
of  bread. 

I acknowledge,  O Jesus,  that  I am  unworthy  to  re- 
ceive Thee.  O my  Saviour,  behold  in  me  an  abyss  of 
misery,  come  and  impart  to  me  Thy  grace. 

(3)  Recall  to  your  mind,  in  the  third  place,  the  pas- 
sion of  Jesus  Christ;  the  Eucharist  is  the  pledge  of 
love  which  He  left  us  before  His  death.  He  wishes 
us  to  receive  Him  as  a remembrance  of  His  sufferings 
and  death:  “ Do  this  for  a commemoration  of  Me.” 
Whenever  you  present  yourself  at  the  Holy  Table, 
remember  all  that  Jesus  Christ  has  done  and  suffered 
for  our  salvation.  “ He  has  loved  me,”  said  St.  Paul, 
“ and  given  Himself  up  to  death  for  me.”  Every  soul 
which  prepares  to  receive  holy  communion  can  say 
likewise:  Jesus  Christ  became  incarnate  for  me!  He 
spent  a life  of  pain  and  toil  for  me!  He  prayed  and 
fasted  for  me!  He  died  upon  the  cross  for  me!  He 
remains  in  the  Eucharist  for  me!  All  this  for  me! 
“ Ah,”  exclaims  the  apostle,  “ the  charity  of  Christ 
presseth  us.”  — Urget  nos.  Certainly,  if  there  is  a mo- 
ment in  our  life  when  it  urges  us  more  forcibly  than 
ever,  is  it  not  the  hallowed  moment  when  we  are  about 
to  receive  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  Who  gave 
Himself  up  to  death  for  us  ? 

(4)  Consider,  finally,  with  what  love  Jesus  Christ 
gives  Himself  to  you,  and  make  Him  some  return. 
Love  can  only  be  returned  by  love.  It  is  love  which 
is  most  pleasing  to  Our  Lord  in  the  heart  of  him  who 
is  about  to  receive  communion.  The  mother  who  is 
separated  from  her  child,  and  the  wife  who  is  deprived 
of  the  presence  of  her  husband,  desire  again  to  see, 
again  to  possess,  the  objects  of  their  affection.  All 
this  is  but  a feeble  image  of  the  desire  which  urges 
Our  Lord  to  give  Himself  to  souls  in  holy  communion. 

Love  is  the  desire  for  an  absent  good,  a good  which 
absorbs  and  occupies  all  the  powers  of  the  soul  in  the 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  123 

pursuit  of  the  beloved  object.  Thus  Jesus  ardently 
desires  to  unite  Himself  to  us : “ With  desire  I have 
desired  to  eat  this  pasch  with  you,”  He  said  when  in- 
stituting the  Sacrament  of  Love. 

Go,  therefore,  to  Jesus  Christ,  Christian  soul,  with 
an  ardor  which  corresponds  to  His  own.  Jesus  loves 
you;  love  Him  in  return.  If  God  desires  to  be  loved, 
it  is  above  all  by  those  who  receive  communion. 
Nothing  satisfies  His  love  to  a greater  degree  than  to 
see  souls  unite  themselves  to  Him  in  holy  communion. 

Our  Lord  appeared  on  one  occasion  to  St.  Mechtilde, 
and  said  to  her:  “ My  child,  when  thou  preparest  thy- 
self to  receive  My  body  and  My  blood,  arouse  in  thy 
heart  the  desire  to  possess  all  the  fervor  and  all  the 
zeal  of  which  a soul  is  capable ; and  with  this  prepara- 
tion thou  canst  approach  Me  with  confidence.  On  My 
part,  I shall  consider  thy  good  intention  to  be  the  same 
as  if  thou  didst  really  possess  this  fervor  and  love.” 


Chapter  26 

©n  CbanfcsgMng  after  Ibolg  Communion 

^^HE  moments  which  immediately  follow  holy  com- 
V*)  munion  are  very  precious,  and  if  it  is  necessary 
to  make  a good  preparation  before  receiving  the  Holy 
Eucharist,  it  is  perhaps  even  more  necessary  to  make 
one’s  thanksgiving  well.  Very  few  Christians  know 
how  to  profit  by  the  precious  moments  during  which 
Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  present  in  their  heart.  What 
is  the  reason  of  this  ? It  is  because  they  do  not  know 
how  to  make  their  thanksgiving.1  After  holy  com- 
munion they  hastily  repeat  a few  Acts,  then  they  take 
a book  and  read  some  prayers  without  paying  much 
attention  to  what  they  are  saying.  , 

1 It  is  the  opinion  of  many  authors,  quoted  by  St.  Alphon- 
sus,  that  the  sacramental  species  remain  within  us  during 
about  a quarter  of  an  hour,  and  the  fruits  of  the  Sacrament 
are  increased  in  proportion  to  our  recollection  and  the  acts 
of  virtue  which  we  make. 


124  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

What  would  be  said  of  any  one  who,  when  receiving 
the  visit  of  some  great  personage,  should  bring  him 
into  his  room  and  ask  him  to  be  seated,  and  then  im- 
mediately take  up  a book,  in  order  to  find  in  its  pages 
a subject  of  conversation.  You  are  this  individual, 
you  who  retire  from  the  Holy  Table,  bearing  within 
you  the  only  Son  of  God,  Whom  the  eternal  Father 
beholds  with  complacency,  Who  is  the  joy  and  delight 
of  saints  and  angels,  yet  to  Whom  you  do  not  know 
how  to  say  one  loving  word! 

How  many  there  are,  O Jesus,  especially  in  the 
days  in  which  our  lot  is  cast,  who  remain  cold,  indif- 
ferent, and  distracted  during  the  time  that  Thou  dost 
dwell  in  them  after  holy  communion!  O my  God, 
would  that  I could  thank  Thee  in  the  place  of  these 
ungrateful  persons  who,  after  receiving  Thy  sacred 
body  and  Thy  precious  blood,  do  not  know  how  to 
thank  Thee! 

After  having  received  the  sacred  Host,  you  must 
repeat,  piously  and  deliberately,  the  Acts  after 
communion.  Afterward  you  can  again  go  over 
the  same  Acts,  one  after  another,  enlarging  upon 
them,  and  speaking  to  Our  Lord  out  of  your  own 
heart. 

You  must  adore,  love,  and  thank  Jesus  Christ,  sur- 
render yourself  entirely  to  Him,  and  beseech  Him  to 
bestow  upon  you  the  graces  of  which  you  stand  in  need. 
“ After  holy  communion,”  St.  Teresa  tells  us,  “ Our 
Lord  dwells  within  our  soul  as  it  were  on  a throne  of 
mercy.”  “ My  daughter,”  He  said  to  her,  “ ask  of  Me 
whatever  thou  wiliest;  I only  entered  into  thee  to  be- 
stow benefits  upon  thee.”  Address  yourself,  therefore, 
O Christian,  to  this  God  of  love  and  say  to  Him  from 
the  depth  of  your  heart: 

(i)  Jesus,  my  Saviour,  I this  morning  adored  Thee 
as  Thou  art  in  heaven,  seated  upon  a throne  of  glory, 
at  the  right  hand  of  Thy  eternal  Father;  now  I adore 
Thee  reposing  in  my  heart,  I adore  Thee  Who  hast 
created  me,  preserved  my  life,  and  redeemed  me.  O 
Jesus,  I acknowledge  Thee  to  be  my  Master,  and  I 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  125 

will  strive  henceforth  to  serve  Thee  faithfully  by  keep- 
ing all  Thy  commandments. 

(2)  How  canst  Thou,  O my  Jesus,  so  love  me,  a 
poor  and  miserable  creature,  as  to  give  Thyself  to  me  ? 
My  heart  is  full  of  earthly  affections,  of  vanity  and 
unruly  desires,  and  Thou  dost  condescend  to  dwell 
within  me!  Destroy  in  me,  O Jesus,  everything  that 
is  an  obstacle  to  Thy  love.  My  God,  I love  Thee  in 
return  for  Thy  love,  and  I shall  always  regret  that 
hitherto  I have  loved  Thee  so  little. 

(3)  My  Saviour,  what  return  can  I make  to  Thee  for 
all  the  favors  which  Thou  hast  showered  down  upon 
me?  Thou  didst  become  incarnate  for  me;  Thou 
gavest  Thy  life  to  save  my  soul ; Thou  didst  cause  me 
to  be  born  in  the  true  religion!  And  now  Thou  dost 
give  me  yet  another  pledge  of  eternal  life,  by  feeding 
me  with  Thine  own  substance.  Be  blessed  for  ever, 
O my  God,  on  account  of  all  these  benefits,  and  because 
of  my  inability  to  thank  Thee  as  I ought,  I call  upon  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  the  angels,  the  saints,  and  all  creatures, 
visible  and  invisible,  to  unite  themselves  with  me  in 
order  to  extol  Thy  infinite  mercy. 

(4)  My  Jesus,  I have  given  myself  entirely  to  Thee, 
as  Thou  hast  given  Thyself  entirely  to  me.  How  can  I 
dare  to  place  myself  on  a par  with  Thee,  to  compare 
my  nothingness  with  Thy  greatness  — my  weakness 
on  a par  with  Thy  strength!  But,  Lord,  this  boldness 
comes  from  Thee ; Thou  dost  ask  me  to  give  Thee  my 
heart,  and  I venture  to  offer  it  to  Thee.  To  Thee  I 
return  all  which  Thou  hast  given  me.  Let  my  heart, 
O Jesus,  be  the  altar  of  Thy  love;  let  my  tongue  pro- 
claim Thy  goodness!  let  my  eyes  be  continually  fixed 
upon  Thee ; let  my  mind  meditate  upon  Thy  adorable 
perfections;  and  let  my  memory  preserve  the  precious 
recollection  of  Thy  goodness. 

(5)  O Jesus,  Who  hast  vouchsafed  to  give  Thyself 
to  me,  in  the  plenitude  of  Thy  bounty,  bless  me.  My 
God,  I am  in  need  of  many  graces,  I ask  them  from 
Thee  with  the  utmost  confidence.  My  faith  is  weak, 
strengthen  it;  it  is  dormant  even  in  the  presence  of 


126  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


Thy  Sacrament  of  Love,  awaken  it.  All  my  trust  is  in 
Thee,  O Lord,  may  I never  cease  to  hope  in  Thee  until 
my  latest  breath. 

Make  me  to  love  Thee,  O my  God,  and  my  neighbor 
also ; that  is  enough  for  me.  Preserve  me  from  mortal 
sin;  may  I rather  die  than  commit  it.  O Jesus,  teach 
me  to  pray,  and  cause  me  to  understand  the  necessity 
of  prayer  if  I would  save  my  soul.  Help  me  to  correct 
my  faults  and  to  acquire  the  virtues  in  which  I am  want- 
ing. To  Thee,  O my  Saviour,  I commend  my  relatives, 
my  friends,  my  benefactors,  and  my  enemies.  Take 
pity  on  the  souls  in  purgatory,  and  especially  on  those 
of  my  deceased  relatives  and  benefactors;  and  as  a 
last  favor  grant  that  I may  know,  love,  and  honor  Thy 
Blessed  Mother,  etc. 

It  is  by  prayers  and  acts  of  love  of  this  nature,  that 
the  soul  ought  to  converse  with  Jesus  after  holy  com- 
munion. A quarter  of  an  hour  is  surely  not  too  much 
for  one’s  thanksgiving;  it  is  indeed  but  very  little; 
some  of  the  saints  spent  hours  in  conversing  with  Our 
Lord  after  holy  communion.  But  some  Christians 
leave  the  church  before  the  sacred  species  have  had 
time  to  change;  or  they  grow  weary  during  the  time 
they  employ  in  making  their  thanksgiving.  O ye  of 
little  faith!  How  indifferent,  how  ungrateful  are  those 
who  dare  to  forget  the  adorable  presence  and  the  in- 
finite love  of  the  Saviour  of  men! 

St.  Philip  Neri  noticed  one  day,  with  deep  regret, 
that  a certain  individual  bent  his  steps  in  the  direction 
of  the  church  door  immediately  after  having  received 
holy  communion,  with  the  evident  intention  of  leaving 
the  sacred  edifice.  The  saint  at  once  ordered  two 
choir-boys  to  take  lighted  candles  and  accompany  the 
man  he  pointed  out  to  them.  Surprised  at  so  unusual 
a proceeding,  the  man  asked  what  it  meant;  and  when 
the  children  replied  that  the  priest  had  given  them 
this  order,  he  went  up  to  St.  Philip  in  order  to  ask  him 
the  reason.  With  grave  courtesy  he  answered: 
“ When  a priest  carries  the  Blessed  Sacrament  in  a 
ciborium  he  is  invariably  accompanied  by  two  boys, 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  127 

carrying  lighted  candles,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  similar 
honor  ought  to  be  paid  to  him  who  bears  the  Holy 
Eucharist  on  his  heart.”  The  man  acknowledged  his 
fault,  and  at  once  knelt  down,  in  order  to  pay  to  Jesus 
Christ  the  acts  of  adoration  and  thanksgiving  which 
were  His  due.  Alas,  to  how  many  Christians  might 
not  a similar  admonition  be  fittingly  addressed! 

Chapter  27 

©n  (prolonging  tbe  ©banfesgfvlng  after 
Communion 

f.  Cf)c  Umcrabk  pcre  lEgmarti  nit  Jbolg  datnmmtion 1 
^T^AVING  received  Jesus  into  your  heart  at  holy 
G communion,  spend  some  time  in  simple  recol- 
lection, without  vocal  prayers.  Adore  Him  in  silence ; 
sit  like  Magdalen  in  humble*,  adoring  love  at  His  feet ; 
gaze  upon  Him  like  Zaccheus,  love  Him  in  mute  wor- 
ship, like  Mary,  His  Mother. 

Call  Him  your  King,  the  Spouse  of  your  soul.  Say 
to  Him:  “ Speak,  Lord,  for  Thy  servant  heareth.” 
Offer  yourself  to  Him  as  His  servant,  ready  to  execute 
His  will.  Bind  your  heart  to  His  footstool,  that  it  may 
wander  no  more,  or  rather  put  it  under  His  feet,  that 
He  may  crush  out  its  self-love  and  pride. 

While  your  soul  remains  in  recollection,  in  the  hushed 
calm  of  His  holy  presence,  do  not  seek  to  disturb  it. 
It  is  the  sleep  of  the  soul  upon  the  breast  of  Jesus,  and 
this  grace,  which  strengthens  and  unites  it  to  Our 
Lord,  will  be  more  profitable  than  any  other  exercise. 

The  first  state  having  passed,  we  may  then  proceed 
to  acts  of  thanksgiving,  and  the  exercise  of  the  Four 
Ends  of  Sacrifice  may  prove  useful,  viz. 


^oration,  GTijanksgtbtng,  Sfoparatten,  an  tJ  ^rager 
I*  | ‘PORE  Jesus  upon  the  throne  of  your  heart, 
and  kiss  His  sacred  feet  and  wounded  hands. 
Rest  upon  that  Heart  which  is  burning  with  love  for 


1 Inserted  by  the  Editor. 


128  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


you.  Offer  Him  the  keys  of  your  home,  like  St.  Cather- 
ine of  Genoa,  “ with  full  power  to  do  all.” 

II.  Thank  Jesus  for  having  so  honored  and  loved  you 
as  to  give  you  this  communion;  to  you,  so  poor  and 
miserable,  so  imperfect  and  unfaithful.  Call  upon 
Mary  and  all  the  saints  and  angels  to  thank  and  praise 
Jesus  for  His  wonderful  love  and  excessive  goodness. 

III.  Make  reparation  to  Jesus  by  expressing  your  in- 
tense sorrow  for  your  sins,  and  by  protestations  of  love 
at  His  feet  with  Magdalen.  Give  Him  some  proof  of 
your  fidelity  and  gratitude  by  the  sacrifice  of  some  un- 
regulated affection  or  the  definite  resolution  to  over- 
come some  particular  passion  with  more  persistent 
energy  and  perseverance.  Beg  of  Him  the  grace  never 
to  offend  Him  more,  and  desire  to  die  rather  than  offend 
Him  by  mortal  sin. 

IV.  Petition:  Ask  what  you  will ; these  are  the  pre- 
cious moments  of  grace.  The  Lord  is  passing;  cry  out 
to  Him  for  mercy  and  help.  He  lingers  under  your 
roof.  Jesus  is  ready  to  listen  to  your  complaints,  and 
to  give  you  all  that  you  ask.  Beg  Him  not  so  much 
for  temporal  favors,  but  rather  that  you  may  become  a 
saint  — that  you  may  be  more  holy,  more  spiritual, 
more  perfect,  more  and  more  pleasing  to  Him.  Pray 
that  His  kingdom  may  be  extended  and  that  He  may 
rule  all  hearts. 

Pray  for  your  daily  needs. 

Pray  for  your  relations,  your  pastors,  for  the  Holy 
Father,  for  the  triumph  of  faith,  and  the  exaltation  of 
the  Church. 

For  peace  upon  earth. 

For  vocations  to  the  priesthood  and  the  perfection 
and  sanctification  of  those  who  have  already  embraced 
it. 

For  the  fervor  and  perseverance  of  Religious. 

For  fervid  and  persevering  adorers  among  the  laity. 

For  the  spread  of  the  Eucharistic  kingdom  of  Christ. 

For  the  conversion  of  sinners,  especially  those  in 
whom  you  are  most  interested,  or  those  recommended 
to  your  prayers. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  129 

Pray  that  Jesus  may  be  known,  loved,  and  served  by 
all  men. 

Conclude  by  offering  some  little  flower  to  Our  Lord, 
by  a practical  resolution,  or  the  promise  of  a particular 
sacrifice  during  the  day. 

Then  say  a few  vocal  prayers  for  the  intention  of  the 
Holy  Father,  e.g .,  five  Our  Fathers  and  five  Hail  Marys 
in  union  with  the  prayer  which  is  to  be  recited  before 
a representation  of  Jesus  Crucified : “ Look  down  upon 
me , good  and  gentle  Jesus”  (page  319),  in  order  to 
obtain  a plenary  indulgence. 

There  are  many  indulgences  that  we  can  gain  very 
easily,  and  we  are  too  often  forgetful  of  these  riches 
that  are  so  profitable  when  applied  to  the  wants  of  the 
suffering  souls.  The  holy  souls  will  thus  join  in  your 
thanksgiving.  During  the  day  do  not  forget  the  royal 
visit  of  Jesus,  the  King  of  kings;  preserve  a remem- 
brance of  the  morning’s  grace,  like  a vase  that  has 
gathered  up  some  precious  perfume,  like  a soul  that 
has  spent  one  hour  of  the  busy  day  in  the  courts  of 
paradise. 

2*  Inflections  on  prolonging  tlje  3Efjattftsgtbmg  after 
(JTontntunion 1 


ALL  to  mind  frequently  during  the  day  that  you 


have  received  Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament 


and  say  to  yourself:  “ This  morning  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God , condescended  to  come  and  dwell  within 
me,  and  gave  Himself  to  me”  By  doing  this,  you  will 
derive  greater  fruit  from  your  communion;  you  will 
gain  more  patience  under  difficulties,  and  be  more 
careful  in  keeping  the  grace  of  God  in  your  soul;  you 
will  more  easily  acquire  true  and  real  devotion ; you 
will  set  a good  example  to  others,  and  have  a continual 
inducement  to  lead  -a  good  Christian  life.  Make 
Father  Russell’s  thought  and  prayer  your  own: 


1 Compiled  by  the  Editor. 


130  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

“ '“INURING  all  the  hours  that  follow  of  this  day,  my 
thoughts,  my  words,  and  my  deeds  must  be 
the  thoughts  and  words  and  deeds  that  are  fitting  one 
on  whom  so  many  graces  are  showered  hour  by  hour, 
the  latest  being  this  sacramental  communion.  And  so 
from  day  to  day,  from  communion  to  communion,  may 
I sanctify  my  soul  and  serve  Thee,  my  almighty  and  all- 
merciful  God,  my  Creator,  my  Redeemer,  my  Judge  — 
from  day  to  day,  and  from  communion  to  communion, 
on  to  the  last  communion  which  I hope  to  receive  as  my 
Viaticum.  May  that  Viaticum  conduct  my  soul,  pure 
from  sin,  safe  to  the  feet  of  my  Jesus,  Who  has  just 
now  come  to  me  as  my  Saviour,  but  then  must  be  my 
Judge.  O Jesus,  my  Saviour,  be  to  me  indeed  a 
Saviour  then  and  now  and  forever.,, 

2.  Retire  frequently  into  your  heart,  in  order  to  re- 
new an  act  of  adoration  of  Jesus,  or  of  thanksgiving  for 
the  loving  visit  He  made  you  in  the  morning,  and  re- 
kindle the  fire  of  divine  charity  by  some  holy  aspiration. 
We  would  not  so  quickly  lose  the  fervor  of  devotion 
and  the  love  of  God,  if  we  took  greater  pains  about 
this;  and  Jesus  Christ  would  not  have  to  lament  the 
coldness  of  men  toward  Him,  if  they  only  thought 
oftener  of  His  benefits  and  His  love,  especially  in  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament,  and  thanked  Him  becomingly. 

3.  Frequently  renew  the  offering  of  your  heart  to  our 
dear  Lord.  By  giving  Himself  to  you,  He  desires  to 
gain  you  to  His  love;  He  earnestly  asks  you  to  give 
Him  your  heart  in  exchange  for  the  infinite  gift  He  has 
bestowed  upon  you.  Will  you  be  so  ungrateful  as  to 
deny  Him  your  heart,  and  to  give  it  to  the  world  and 
the  devil  on  the  very  day  on  which  He  has  come  to  take 
possession  of  it?  Ah!  no;  this  must  not  be;  you 
have  consecrated  your  heart  to  Jesus  in  your  com- 
munion; you  must  ratify  and  confirm  this  offering; 
and  if  the  world,  with  its  enticements,  vanities,  and 
false  pleasures,  wishes  to  enter  into  your  heart,  say 
that  you  have  given  it  forever  to  Jesus.  If  the  devil 
with  his  suggestions,  and  the  flesh  with  its  temptations, 
assail  your  heart,  answer  generously  and  courageously 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  131 

that  you  have  given  it  to  Jesus,  to  be  His  and  His 
alone  and  forever.  Oh,  if  all  Christians  were  but  to 
do  this  after  their  communion,  they  would  preserve  the 
grace  of  God  and  not  relapse  into  sin. 

4.  Remember  that  your  tongue  has  received  Jesus, 
that  it  has  touched  His  sacred  body  when  you  went  to 
communion.  Only  recall  this  thought  to  mind  when 
you  feel  tempted  to  speak  impatiently,  or  so  as  to  offend 
or  injure  your  neighbor;  and  surely  it  will  keep  you 
from  offending  Jesus  with  that  tongue  which  has  been 
sanctified  by  the  touch  of  His  sacred  flesh. 

5.  In  connection  with  your  visits  to  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament, make  a spiritual  communion , renewing  in  the 
most  lively  manner  your  desire  to  receive  our  dear 
Lord  into  your  heart.  Remember,  for  love  of  us  Jesus 
remains  night  and  day  in  the  tabernacle,  ardently  de- 
siring to  communicate  Himself  to  our  souls,  and  bestow 
His  graces  upon  us.  Ah,  what  monstrous  forgetfulness 
arid  ingratitude,  if,  when  we  can  easily  visit  Him,  we 
neglect  to  go  to  Him  during  the  day  to  pay  our  homage 
and  adoration  to  Him  in  return  for  all  His  love! 


Chapter  28 

Qn  Spiritual  Communion 

Vvrr'E  have  recently  shown  the  necessity  of  receiv- 
VJlA#  ing  holy  communion  in  order  to  lead  a Chris- 
tian life.  We  have  also  set  forth  the  great  advantages 
to  be  derived  from  frequent  communion.  Finally,  we 
have  recalled  to  the  mind  of  the  reader  the  manner  in 
which  preparation  before,  and  thanksgiving  after,  re- 
ceiving holy  communion  are  to  be  made.  But  to  what 
has  been  said  it  may  be  objected:  “ All  this  is  most 
excellent  and  edifying,  but  ample  leisure  is  necessary  if 
this  good  advice  is  to  be  acted  on.” 

We  will  reply  in  the  first  place  to  those  persons  who 
complain  of  not  having  time  to  approach  the  Holy 
Eucharist  frequently.  Never  lose  time,  but  make  use 
of  every  opportunity,  and  you  will  find  that  you  have 


132  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

sufficient  leisure  for  receiving  holy  communion.  We 
will,  however,  suppose  that  it  is  impossible  for  you  to 
do  this  frequently,  because  of  your  occupations,  or 
your  distance  from  a church ; you  have  still  at  your  dis- 
posal a means  whereby  you  may,  without  any  diffi- 
culty, unite  yourself  very  intimately  to  Jesus  as  He 
dwells  in  the  sacred  Host,  and  draw  down  upon  your- 
self an  abundance  of  graces.  You  know  what  this 
means  is;  it  is  spiritual  communion.  We  will  now 
say  a few  words  in  reference  to  it,  and  see  when  it  can 
be  made,  and  what  are  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  it. 

To  communicate  spiritually  is  ardently  to  desire  to 
receive  Jesus  Christ  in  holy  communion.  The  word 
“ communion  ” signifies  a close  and  intimate  union; 
one  can  be  united  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Holy  Eucha- 
rist in  two  ways;  namely,  by  sacramental  and  by 
spiritual  communion.  In  order  to  communicate 
spiritually,  it  is  sufficient  to  recall  to  mind  that  Jesus 
is  really  present  in  the  Holy  Eucharist,  to  beseech  Him 
to  cleanse  our  soul  from  the  sins  which  pollute  it,  and 
graciously  to  vouchsafe  to  descend  in  order  to  sanctify 
and  save  it.  The  following  is  a formula  given  by  St. 
Alphonsus  Liguori  at  the  beginning  of  his  “ Visits  to 
the  Blessed  Sacrament :” 

“ Adorable  Jesus,  I firmly  believe  that  Thou  art 
really  present  in  the  Holy  Sacrament.  I adore  Thee ; 
I love  Thee  above  all  things;  I long  after  Thee  with 
all  the  ardor  of  my  soul.  But  since  I can  not  now  re- 
ceive Thee  sacramentally,  deign  to  descend  into  my 
heart  in  a spiritual  manner.  I unite  myself  to  Thee  as 
if  Thou  wert  there  already,  and  I consecrate  myself 
wholly  to  Thee;  never  permit  me  to  be  separated 
from  Thee.” 

Spiritual  communion  possesses  this  advantage,  that 
it  can  be  made  at  all  times  and  in  all  places.  It  is, 
however,  advisable  to  make  it  when  assisting  at  Mass, 
paying  a visit  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  passing  before 
a church,  upon  entering  or  leaving  it. 

“ In  order  to  make  us  understand,”  says  St.  Alphon- 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  133 

sus  Liguori,  44  how  pleasing  spiritual  communion  is  to 
Him,  Our  Lord  appeared  one  day  to  Paula  Maresia, 
the  foundress  of  the  convent  of  St.  Catherine  of  Siena 
at  Naples,  and  showed  her  two  precious  vessels,  one 
of  gold,  the  other  of  silver.  4 The  first,’  Jesus  said 
to  her,  4 contains  thy  sacramental  communions,  the 
second,  thy  spiritual  communions.’  Our  Lord  also 
told  the  Blessed  Jeanne  de  la  Croix  that  every  time 
she  made  a spiritual  communion  she  received  in  a cer- 
tain sense  a grace  equal  to  that  which  would  have 
been  hers  had  she  really  received  communion.” 

“ On  a certain  Good  Friday,”  the  Blessed  Margaret 
Mary  tells  us,  44  feeling  within  myself  an  ardent  longing 
to  receive  Our  Lord,  I spoke  thus  to  Him  amid  many 
tears:  4 Amiable  Jesus,  I would  fain  be  consumed  with 
longing  after  Thee,  and,  being  unable  to  receive  Thee 
on  this  day,  I shall  never  cease  to  desire  Thee.’  He 
came  to  console  me  with  His  sweet  presence,  and  said 
to  me : 4 My  daughter,  thy  desire  has  entered  so  deeply 
into  My  heart,  that  if  I had  not  instituted  this  Sacra- 
ment of  Love,  I would  do  so  now  in  order  to  become 
thy  food.  I take  so  much  delight  in  being  desired, 
that  as  often  as  the  heart  of  any  one  feels  this  desire, 
just  as  often  do  I look  lovingly  upon  that  individual,  in 
order  to  draw  him  to  Myself.’  ” 

44  It  is  enough  to  know,”  continues  St.  Alphonsus 
Liguori, 44  that  the  holy  Council  of  Trent  highly  approves 
spiritual  communion,  and  earnestly  recommends  the 
faithful  to  adopt  this  pious  custom.  Devout  souls, 
moreover,  reckon  it  among  their  favorite  practices.” 


Chapter  29 


Zbc  %ovc  of  tbe  /Ifcost  MesseD  Dirqin  for 
SouIb  TDdbo  1 Receive  Communion  ffrequentl^ 


/'TXARY  loves  in  a special  manner  those  persons 
,\l/t  who  frequently  and  devoutly  approach  the  Holy 
Table.  She  was  the  first  to  set  an  example  of  fre- 
quent communion.  Subsequently  to  the  Ascension  of 


134  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

her  divine  Son,  the  Blessed  Virgin  spent  many  weary 
years  on  earth.  But  she  was  not  alone.  Besides  St. 
John,  who  took  care  of  her,  she  still  possessed  Jesus, 
her  beloved  Son,  beneath  the  Eucharistic  veils.  Dur- 
ing upwards  of  twenty  years,  the  abode  of  the  immacu- 
late Virgin  was,  in  a certain  sense,  at  the  foot  of  the 
sacred  altar. 

Speaking  of  the  daily  communions  of  Mary,  a pious 
missionary  says  that  authorities  deserving  of  credit 
assert  that  “ the  sacramental  species  were  preserved 
within  her  from  one  communion  to  another.”  Various 
revelations  confirm  this  assertion,  and  Marie  d’Agreda, 
in  the  “ Mystic  City,”  has  left  on  record  some  beautiful 
passages  concerning  the  communions  of  Mary. 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  it  is  said  of  the  first  Chris- 
tians: “ Continuing  daily  with  one  accord  in  the 

temple,  and  breaking  bread  from  house  to  house , they 
took  their  meat  with  gladness  and  simplicity  of  heart.”  1 

The  Fathers  of  the  Church  are  unanimous  in  the 
opinion  that  there  is  in  this  passage  a reference  to 
daily,  or,  at  least,  to  very  frequent,  communion,  as 
being  the  general  custom  in  the  first  ages  of  Chris- 
tianity. “ Now,”  Father  Eymard  adds,  “ if  such  was 
the  practice  of  ordinary  Christians,  what  shall  we  say 
of  Mary?  The  Saviour  certainly  intends  daily  com- 
munion, when  He  commands  us  to  ask  for  it  in  the 
Pater  noster . There  can,  therefore,  be  no  doubt  that 
this  august  Mother  complied  with  the  wish  of  her 
divine  Son  by  receiving  Him  day  by  day  in  holy 
communion.” 

It  is  easy  to  understand  the  delight  experienced  by 
Our  Lord  when  He  descended  into  this  living  taber- 
nacle, this  privileged  sanctuary,  in  which  He  had  made 
His  abode  during  nine  months.  And  if  the  Saviour 
said  to  His  disciples  before  the  Last  Supper,  “ With 
desire  I have  desired  to  eat  this  pasch  with  you,”  what 
can  not  have  been  His  desire  to  eat  this  pasch  with 
Mary  His  mother?  Enter,  then,  into.  Mary,  O my 
Saviour;  she  is  worthy  of  Thee ; enter  again  into  her, 
1 Acts  ii.  46. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  135 

come  and  dwell  in  this  abode  which  belongs  wholly  to 
Thee,  and  which  has  never  been  polluted. 

And  who,  on  the  other  hand,  could  describe  the  de- 
light which  Mary  experienced  in  her  communions,  in 
her  intimate  communings  with  Jesus?  Neither  saints 
nor  angels  have  ever  been  able  to  understand  the  depth 
of  the  love  of  Mary  for  Jesus,  and  of  the  affection  her 
beloved  Son  felt  for  such  a Mother!  What  recollec- 
tion prevailed  in  the  heart  of  the  immaculate  Virgin, 
what  peace,  what  purity,  how  greatly  did  she  long  to 
be  united  with  her  Well-Beloved!  What  a beauteous 
model  does  she  present.  Let  us  strive  to  imitate  her 
when  we  receive  holy  communion,  let  us  ask  Jesus 
that  our  heart  may  be  made  like  to  the  heart  of  His 
Mother,  and  let  us  beseech  Mary  to  adorn  our  heart, 
and  prepare  it  for  the  coming  of  her  Son. 

It  is  certain  that  Mary  loves  those  who  frequently 
receive  communion,  she  has  so  much  at  heart  the  sal- 
vation of  souls  and  the  establishment  of  the  kingdom 
of  Jesus  Christ  upon  earth.  And  the  surest  means  of 
keeping  the  faith,  observing  the  law  of  the  Lord,  and 
finally  attaining  heaven,  is  to  receive  holy  communion. 
“ Except  you  eat  the  flesh  of  the  Son  of  man,  and 
drink  His  blood,  you  shall  not  have  life  in  you.”  It  is 
obvious  that  whatever  pleases  Jesus  is  pleasing  also  to 
Mary.  Now  nothing  is  more  pleasing  to  Our  Lord 
than  to  see  us  approach  the  Holy  Table  with  good  dis- 
positions. Did  He  not  show  to  Blessed  Margaret 
Mary  His  wish  to  see  us  receive  holy  communion  fre- 
quently, when  He  said  to  her:  “ I have  an  ardent 
longing  to  be  honored  in  the  Holy  Sacrament,  and  I 
scarcely  find  any  one  who  is  willing  to  quench  My 
thirst  by  reciprocating  My  love.”  What  is  the  best 
way  of  honoring  Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host?  It  is  to 
receive  Him  with  good  dispositions.  Can  we  imagine 
for  a single  instant  that  when  a Christian  strives  to 
correspond  to  the  love  which  Jesus  shows  him  in  the 
Holy  Eucharist,  the  heart  of  Mary  does  not  rejoice  ? 

Upon  one  occasion  the  Blessed  Virgin  said  to  Marie 
d’Agreda:  “ My  daughter,  Lucifer  and  his  emissaries 


136  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

have  a very  great  dread  of  being  found  near  the  Eucha- 
rist; for  the  presence  of  Him  Who  abides  there  causes 
them  to  suffer  even  worse  torments  than  they  have  to 
endure  in  hell  itself.  When  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
is  borne  through  the  streets,  they  speedily  take  to 
flight,  and  retire  to  the  greatest  possible  distance. 
How  formidable  would  men  become  to  these  rebel 
spirits  if  they  knew  how  to  frequent  the  Sacrament 
with  devotion  and  purity  of  heart,  endeavoring  to  retain 
the  holy  influence  of  one  communion  until  another!  ” 

“ In  how  many  places,”  says  a pious  writer,  “ has 
not  this  amiable  Mother  worked  miracles;  showing 
herself  by  wonderful  apparitions,  and  commanding,  in 
most  instances,  that,  in  the  places  where  she  had  ap- 
peared, churches  should  be  erected  in  her  honor,  in 
order  that  crowds  of  pilgrims,  drawn  thither  by  the 
numerous  favors  which  she  grants,  should  find  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  there  and  be  induced  to  glorify 
the  same  in  every  possible  way.” 

Such  was  the  end  Mary  had  in  view.  Well,  indeed, 
has  this  wise  Mother  known  how  to  attain  her  end! 
Who  can  tell  the  glory  which  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
has  received,  and  still  receives,  day  by  day,  in  the 
sanctuaries  of  Loreto,  Einsiedeln,  La  Salette,  and  our 
Lady  of  Victories!  Think  only  of  the  great  number  of 
Masses  said,  the  innumerable  communions  received, 
and  the  fervent  petitions  offered  up  to  God  at  these 
favored  shrines!  And  to  mention  the  sanctuary  of 
Lourdes  alone,  does  not  the  immaculate  Virgin  appear 
to  withdraw,  in  order  to  increase  the  glory  of  Jesus  in 
the  sacred  Host?  Why  do  the  sick  rise  up  when  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  passes  by,  opposite  to  the  hallowed 
grotto?  It  is  because  the  Virgin  desires  to  show  us 
that  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  the  source  of  all  graces, 
because  the  immaculate  Virgin  wishes  to  induce  Chris- 
tians to  fulfil  better  their  duties  in  regard  to  Jesus  Who 
dwells  in  the  sacred  Host. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  137 

Chapter  30 

©n  tbc  IReasons  limbs  tbe  attendance  at  Ibols 
dbass  Is  so  Scants 

OUR  principal  duties  in  regard  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the 
Holy  Eucharist  are  to  believe  in  His  real  presence, 
to  adore  Him,  to  visit  Him,  to  receive  Him,  and  to 
assist  at  Mass. 

We  have  already  spoken  of  the  first  four  of  these 
duties ; we  will  now  consider  holy  Mass,  that  is  to  say, 
the  Eucharist  considered  as  a sacrifice.  On  this  sub- 
ject many  errors  and  much  ignorance  may  be  found  to 
prevail. 

Christians  are  to  be  met  with  who  regard  holy  Mass 
as  a prayer  resembling  any  other  form  of  petition. 
This  idea  is  a completely  mistaken  one.  It  is  un- 
doubtedly true  that  every  religious  act,  such  as  the 
recital  of  the  rosary,  a visit  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament, 
family  prayers,  etc.,  are  praiseworthy;  but,  strictly 
speaking,  they  are  only  prayers.  But  holy  Mass  is 
above  all  other  religious  exercises;  it  is  the  sacrifice 
of  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  offered  to  God 
under  the  species  of  bread  and  wine.  The  holy  sacrifice 
of  the  Mass  is  the  representation,  the  continuation  of. 
the  sacrifice  of  Calyary  and  the  application  of  its  in- 
finite merits.  This  simple  explanation  is  enough  to 
show  us  the  excellence  of  the  holy  Mass. 

It  is  with  deep  regret  that  we  are  compelled  to  own 
that  at  the  present  day,  when  such  widespread  indif- 
ference prevails  in  regard  to  religion,  many  Christians 
assist  in  a perfunctory  manner  at  Mass  on  Sundays 
and  days  of  obligation.  As  to  those  who  might  hear 
it  during  the  week,  very  few  take  the  trouble  to  do  so. 

Thy  divine  Son,  O my  God,  daily  renews  the  sacrifice 
of  Calvary  in  our  midst,  and  Christians  deign  not  to 
traverse  a short  distance  in  order  to  profit  by  it! 

In  what  spirit,  moreover,  are  people  present  at  Mass  ? 
If  you  wish  to  discover  this,  you  have  only  to  observe 
how  they  enter  the  hallowed  precincts,  how  they  con- 
duct themselves  when  there,  and  how  they  pray. 


138  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

Why  should  we  not  speak  on  this  subject?  They 
enter  the  house  of  God  as  if  it  were  any  ordinary  place, 
take  holy  water,  cross  themselves  carelessly,  proceed 
to  their  place,  bow  in  the  direction  of  the  tabernacle, 
kneel  down  for  a few  brief  moments,  then  seat  them- 
selves and  gaze  about  them  in  an  absent  manner. 
They  do  not  seem  to  reflect  that  they  are  in  a holy 
place,  that  they  ought  to  adore  Jesus  Christ  present 
in  the  Eucharist.  They  have  come  to  Mass;  that  is 
enough. 

Their  behavior  during  Mass  is  sometimes  far  from 
what  it  ought  to  be.  In  the  present  day  but  few  seem 
to  know  what  it  is  to  keep  the  eyes  modestly  cast  down 
during  divine  worship. 

And  how  do  they  pray  ? If,  after  the  elevation,  Jesus 
Christ  were  to  show  Himself  upon  the  altar  in  a visible 
form,  to  how  many  might  He  not  address  the  reproach 
He  directed  to  the  Jews  of  old:  “ This  people  honoreth 
Me  with  their  lips,  but  their  heart  is  far  from  Me.”  1 

Our  Lord  complained  on  one  occasion  of  this  to  one 
of  His  faithful  servants.  “ My  daughter,”  He  said, 
“ few  indeed  are  those  who  Understand  what  the  holy 
sacrifice  of  the  Mass  really  is.  The  greater  number  of 
Christians  do  not  know  how  to  pray  to  Me  aright.  I 
perceive  but  very  few  who  pray  to  Me.  It  is  a solemn 
act  to  assist  at  Mass,  if  the  world  at  large  did  but  know 
this.  It  is  only  too  true  that  the  number  of  the  Chris- 
tians who,  during  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  are 
only  occupied  in  praying  to  God,  adoring  Him,  thank- 
ing Him  for  His  benefits,  and  asking  pardon  for  their 
sins,  is  few  indeed!  ” 

St.  Augustine  tells  us  that  his  mother  never  allowed 
a day  to  pass  without  assisting  at  Mass,  so  great  was 
her  esteem  for  the  Holy  Sacrifice.  The  last  request 
she  addressed  to  her  son,  when  she  was  on  the  point 
of  expiring,  was,  not  that  she  should  have  a splendid 
funeral,  nor  that  her  body  should  be  embalmed,  but 
that  he  should  always  remember  her  at  the  altar  of  God. 

1 Populus  hie  labiis  me  honorat,  cor  autem  eorum  longe 
est  a me.  — Matt.  xv.  8. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  139 

If  only  we  possessed  a lively  faith,  and  knew  the 
gift  of  God!  If  some  poor  savage  were  to  emerge  from 
the  depths  of  the  desert  and  appear  in  our  midst,  and 
if  he  were  to  be  told  that  there  is  a sacrifice  among  us, 
in  the  course  of  which  heaven  opens  at  the  voice  of  the 
priest,  the  Son  of  God  descends  upon  the  altar,  offers 
up  Himself,  and  gives  His  body  to  be  eaten  and  His 
blood  to  be  drunk  in  order  that  we  might  become 
sharers  of  His  divine  life,  what  would  be  the  reflec- 
tions of  this  poor  savage?  How  he  would  desire  to 
take  part  in  this  sacrifice,  and  how  he  would  rejoice 
at  having  been  privileged  to  do  so!  We  ought  to  ex- 
perience all  these  impressions,  and  they  ought  to  be 
all  the  more  definite,  in  proportion  to  our  greater  en- 
lightenment. Let  us,  therefore,  confess  with  all  hu- 
mility that  it  is  by  our  fault,  and  our  most  grievous 
fault,  that  we  so  rarely  assist  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice,  and 
that  we  do  so  in  a manner  which  is,  too  often,  grievously 
wanting  in  true  devotion : failing,  moreover,  to  gain  the 
profit  which  might  accrue  to  us  from  this  act  which 
possesses  an  infinite  merit.  Jesus  Christ  said  to  two 
guilty  cities:  “ Wo  to  thee,  Corozain;  wo  to  thee,  Beth- 
saida;  for  if  in  Tyre  and  Sidon  had  been  wrought  the 
miracles  that  have  been  wrought  in  you  they  had  long 
ago  done  penance  in  sackcloth  and  ashes.”  1 If  but  a 
thousandth  part  of  the  graces  of  which  so  many  Chris- 
tians make  a bad  use  were  granted  to  some  among 
the  heathen,  they  would  be  converted  and  would 
speedily  become  saints.  What  an  awful  account  will 
those  Christians  have  to  render  who  make  a bad  use 
of  everything!  Let  us  carefully  treasure  up  the  merits 
of  the  Holy  Sacrifice  in  order  to  pay  our  debts  to  divine 
justice,  and  enrich  ourselves  for  a blessed  eternity. 

St.  Louis,  king  of  France,  was  so  thoroughly  con- 
vinced of  the  excellence  of  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the 
Mass,  that  he  assisted  at  it  every  day.  Having  been 
informed  that  certain  of  his  courtiers  blamed  him  for 
devoting  to  hearing  Mass  the  time  which,  in  their 
opinion,  he  ought  to  have  given  to  the  affairs  of  his 
1 Matt.  xi.  2i. 


140  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

kingdom,  he  replied:  “ Behold  how  great  is  the  solici- 
tude these  gentlemen  feel  for  me!  If  I had  spent 
twice  the  time  in  the  hunting-field  or  at  the  gaming- 
table, it  is  certain  that  no  one  would  have  uttered  one 
word  of  blame.” 

How  many  nominal  Christians  would  deserve  a simi- 
lar answer  in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  they 
criticize  those  devout  persons  who  make  it  their  prac- 
tice to  hear  Mass  every  day! 


Chapter  31 

fTbe  mature  of  tbe  Ibols  Sacrifice  of  tbe  /Ibass 

IN  order  to  understand  thoroughly  what  is  the 
nature  of  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  it  is 
necessary  to  make  some  reflections  upon  sacrifice  in 
general. 

There  never  has  been,  and  there  never  will  be,  any 
religion  without  an  exterior  and  sensible  worship. 
The  object  of  religion  being  to  honor  God,  sacrifice  is 
the  proper  means  to  attain  this  end;  that  is  to  say,  the 
offering  made  to  God  of  something  exterior  and  sen- 
sible with  the  annihilation  or  transmutation  of  what  is 
offered  up.  Here  we  have  the  reason  why,  in  all  ages 
and  in  all  places,  and  in  all  religions,  there  have  always 
been  sacrifices.  Every  one  is  acquainted  with  the  sac- 
rifices of  Abel,  Cain,  Melchisedech,  Abraham,  Jacob, 
and  those  of  the  Jews  under  the  written  Law. 

Every  one,  moreover,  knows  the  nature  of  the  sacri- 
fices which  were  formerly  customary  among  the  As- 
syrians, Persians,  Chaldeans,  Greeks,  and  Romans, 
and  which  are  still  the  practice  in  heathen  countries. 
The  offering  of  all  these  various  sacrifices  proves  the 
existence  of  a law  which  the  heathen  observes,  as  it 
were,  unconsciously.  This  law  is  as  follows:  Men 
acknowledge  the  existence  of  a supreme  Being  above 
them  and  as  a mark  of  their  dependence  they  offer 
sacrifices  to  Him.  God  had,  in  fact,  prescribed  them 
to  the  Jews  under  the  Old  Law;  but  all  the  Jewish 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  141 

sacrifices  were  but  figures  of  the  sacrifice  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  had  no  value  except  that  of  obedience  to 
the  law  of  God,  Who  had  commanded  them,  of  the 
interior  dispositions  of  those  who  offered  them,  and  of 
faith  in  the  merits  of  a future  Redeemer. 

Let  us  hear  what  is  the  teaching  of  the  sacred  Coun- 
cil of  Trent  in  reference  to  the  most  holy  sacrifice  of 
the  Mass: 

“ Jesus  Christ,  our  God  and  Lord,  though  He  was 
about  to  offer  Himself  once  on  the  altar  of  the  cross 
unto  God  the  Father,  by  means  of  His  death,  there  to 
operate  an  eternal  redemption;  nevertheless,  because 
that  His  priesthood  was  not  to  be  extinguished  by  His 
death,  in  the  Last  Supper,  on  the  night  in  which  He  was 
betrayed,  — that  He  might  leave,  to  His  own  beloved 
Spouse  the  Church,  a visible  sacrifice,  such  as  the 
nature  of  man  requires,  whereby  that  bloody  sacrifice, 
once  to  be  accomplished  on  the  cross,  might  be  repre- 
sented, and  the  memory  thereof  remain  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world,  and  its  salutary  virtue  be  applied  to 
the  remission  of  those  sins  which  we  daily  commit  — 
declaring  Himself  constituted  a priest  for  ever,  accord- 
ing to  the  order  of  Melchisedech  (Ps.  cix.  4),  He  offered 
up  to  God  the  Father  His  own  body  and  blood  under 
the  species  of  bread  and  wine ; and,  under  the  symbols 
of  those  same  things,  He  delivered  (His  own  body  and 
blood)  to  be  received  by  His  apostles,  whom  He  then 
constituted  priests  of  the  New  Testament:  and  by 
those  words,  ‘ Do  this  in  commemoration  of  Me  * 
(Luke  xxii.  19),  He  commanded  them  and  their  succes- 
sors in  the  priesthood  to  offer  (them) ; even  as  the 
Catholic  Church  has  always  understood  and  taught. 
For,  having  celebrated  the  ancient  Passover,  which  the 
multitude  of  the  children  of  Israel  immolated  in  memory 
of  their  going  out  of  Egypt,  He  instituted  the  new  Pass- 
over,  (to  wit)  Himself,  to  be  immolated,  under  visible 
signs,  by  the  Church  through  (the  ministry  of)  priests, 
in  memory  of  His  own  passage  from  this  world  unto 
the  Father,  when  by  the  effusion  of  His  own  blood  He 
redeemed  us,  and  delivered  us  from  the  power  of  dark- 


142  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

ness,  and  translated  us  into  His  kingdom  (Col.  i.  13), 
And  this  is  indeed  that  clean  oblation,  which  cannot 
be  defiled  by  any  unworthiness,  or  malice  of  those  that 
offer  (it);  which  the  Lord  foretold  by  Malachias  was 
to  be  4 offered  in  every  place,  clean  to  His  name,  which 
was  to  be  great  amongst  the  Gentiles’  (Malach.  i.  11); 
and  which  the  Apostle  Paul,  writing  to  the  Corinthians, 
has  not  obscurely  indicated,  when  he  says  that  they 
who  are  defiled  by  4 the  participation  of  the  table  of 
devils  cannot  be  partakers  of  the  table  of  the  Lord  ’ 
(1  Cor.  x.  21);  by  4 the  table ,’  meaning  in  both  places 
the  altar.  This,  in  fine,  is  that  oblation  which  was  pre- 
figured by  various  types  of  sacrifices,  during  the  period 
of  nature  and  of  the  law ; inasmuch  as  it  comprises  all 
the  good  things  signified  by  those  sacrifices,  as  being 
the  consummation  and  perfection  of  them  all. 

44  If,  therefore,  any  one  saith  that  in  the  Mass  a true 
and  proper  sacrifice  is  not  offered  to  God;  or  that  to 
be  offered  is  nothing  else  but  that  Christ  is  given  us  to 
eat;  let  him  be  anathema. 

“ If  any  one  saith,  that  by  those  words,  * Do  this 
for  the  commemoration  of  Me  ’ (Luke  xxii.  19),  Christ 
did  not  institute  the  apostles  priests;  or  did  not  ordain 
that  they  and  other  priests  should  offer  His  own  body 
and  blood;  let  him  be  anathema.”  (Sess.  xxii,  ch.  1.) 

One  can  not  fail  to  be  struck  with  respect  and  admira- 
tion on  hearing  the  holy  Council  stating  so  authori- 
tatively, so  grandly,  the  Catholic  doctrine  of  the  holy 
Mass.  We  can  not  refrain  from  also  quoting  the  fol- 
lowing sentences  concerning  the  fruits  of  the  holy 
sacrifice  of  the  Mass : 

44  Forasmuch  as,  in  this  divine  sacrifice  which  is  cele- 
brated in  the  Mass,  that  same  Christ  is  contained  and 
immolated  in  an  unbloody  manner  Who  once  offered 
Himself  in  a bloody  manner  on  the  altar  of  the  cross; 
the  Holy  Synod  teaches  that  this  sacrifice  is  truly 
proprietary,  and  that  by  means  thereof  this  is  effected, 
that  we  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  4 in  seasonable 
aid  * (Heb.  iv.  6),  if  we  draw  nigh  unto  God,  contrite 
and  penitent,  with  a sincere  heart  and  upright  faith, 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  143 

with  fear  and  reverence.  For  the  Lord,  appeased  by 
the  oblation  thereof,  and  granting  the  grace  and  gift  of 
penitence,  forgives  even  heinous  crimes  and  sins.  For 
the  victim  is  one  and  the  same,  the  same  now  offering 
by  the  ministry  of  priests  Who  then  offered  Himself 
on  the  cross,  the  manner  alone  of  offering  being  dif- 
ferent. The  fruits  of  which  oblation,  of  that  bloody 
one,  to  wit,  are  received  most  plentifully  through  that 
unbloody  one ; so  far  is  this  (latter)  from  derogating 
in  any  way  from  that  (former  oblation).  Wherefore, 
not  only  for  the  sins,  punishments,  satisfactions,  and 
other  necessities  of  the  faithful  who  are  living,  but  also 
for  those  who  are  departed  in  Christ,  and  who  are  not 
as  yet  fully  purified,  is  it  rightly  offered,  agreeably  to 
a tradition  of  the  apostles. 

“ If  any  one  saith  that  the  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  is 
only  a sacrifice  of  praise  and  of  thanksgiving;  or  that 
it  is  a bare  commemoration  of  the  sacrifice  consum- 
mated on  the  cross,  but  not  a propitiatory  sacrifice ; or 
that  it  profits  him  only  who  receives ; and  that  it  ought 
not  to  be  offered  for  the  living  and  the  dead  for  sins, 
pains,  satisfactions,  and  other  necessities;  let  him  be 
anathema.”  (Sess.  xxii,  ch.  2.) 

How  admirable  and  consoling  is  this  doctrine! 
Meditate  upon  it,  O Christian;  meditate  upon  it,  and 
give  thanks  to  God.  Were  one  to  unite  all  the  merits 
of  the  immaculate  Virgin,  of  the  celestial  spirits,  of  the 
holy  apostles,  of  the  thousands  of  martyrs;  the  pen- 
ances of  the  hermits;  the  prayers  of  virgins;  all  the 
mortifications,  sacrifices,  and  holocausts,  all  the  good 
works  which  have  been  performed  and  will  still  be  per- 
formed until  the  consummation  of  the  world,  all  these 
spiritual  riches,  all  these  treasures  of  grace  and  benedic- 
tion gathered  into  one,  are  nothing  in  comparison  with 
a single  Low  Mass!  For  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass 
procures  infinite  glory  to  God;  in  it  a God  adores  a 
God.  The  glory  rendered  to  God  by  the  saints  and 
angels  is  always  limited,  whereas  that  which  accrues 
to  Him  from  the  Holy  Sacrifice  is  infinite.  In  order 
to  show  honor  to  the  holy  Mass,  we  will  now  relate  the 


144  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

manner  in  which  Jesus  Christ  Himself  consecrated  the 
Church  of  Our  Lady  of  the  Hermits. 

In  the  month  of  September  948,  Eberhard,  Abbot 
of  the  monastery  of  Einsiedeln,  requested  St.  Conrad, 
bishop  of  Constance,  to  come  and  consecrate  a chapel 
which  had  been  erected  in  honor  of  the  Most  Blessed 
Virgin.  The  prelate  hastened  to  comply  with  this  re- 
quest; on  the  13th  of  September  in  the  same  year,  he 
arrived  at  the  monastery,  accompanied  by  Ulric,  bishop 
of  Augsburg,  and  by  a number  of  gentlemen.  On  the 
eve  of  the  14th,  the  day  which  had  been  fixed  for  the 
ceremony,  Conrad  went  down  into  the  church  in  the 
middle  of  the  night,  and  engaged  in  prayer.  Suddenly 
he  beheld  the  chapel  illuminated  with  celestial  bril- 
liance; then  he  saw  Jesus  Christ  Himself  standing  at 
the  altar,  and  celebrating  the  rite  of  dedication  as- 
sisted by  the  four  evangelists.  To  the  right  and  to  the 
left,  angels  scattered  a thousand  fragrant  odors  around 
the  divine  Pontiff,  the  apostle  St.  Peter  and  Pope  St. 
Gregory  held  the  pontifical  insignia;  before  the  altar 
was  the  holy  Mother  of  God,  surrounded  by  an  aureola 
of  glory.  A choir  of  angels,  led  by  St.  Michael  the 
archangel,  caused  the  vaulted  roof  of  the  building  to 
resound  with  celestial  chants.  St.  Stephen  and  St. 
Laurence,  who  were  the  first,  by  their  martyrdom,  to 
shed  honor  on  the  diaconate,  fulfilled  the  functions  of 
their  order.  Conrad  himself  relates,  in  his  work  De 
Secretis  Secretorum , that  the  text  of  the  Sanctus  was 
altered  as  follows  by  the  heavenly  voices:  “ Sanctus 
Deus  in  aula  gloriosae  Virginis,  miserere  nobis.  Bene- 
dictus  Mariae  Filius  in  aeternum  regnaturus  qui  venit ” 
— “ Have  mercy  upon  us,  O God,  Whose  holiness  is  re- 
vealed in  the  sanctuary  of  the  glorious  Virgin.  Blessed 
be  the  Son  of  Mary,  Who  comes  here  to  establish  His 
kingdom  for  ever.” 

Conrad  further  quotes  various  alterations  made  in 
the  Agnus  Dei , as  also  in  the  final  wish  for  the  happi- 
ness of  the  faithful:  Dominus  vobiscum!  that  is  to 
say,  May  all  the  happiness  of  heaven  be  yours,  and 
may  God  Himself  take  up  His  abode  within  you! 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  145 

However  amazed  he  was  by  such  an  apparition,  the 
bishop  remained  in  prayer  until  the  eleventh  hour  of 
the  day.  Every  one  waited  for  him,  without,  however, 
venturing  to  try  and  discover  the  cause  of  the  delay. 
At  length,  some  of  the  Brothers  approached  him  and 
requested  him  to  begin  the  ceremony.  But  the  bishop 
did  not  move  from  the  spot,  but  related,  with  all 
simplicity,  what  he  had  seen  and  heard.  His  recital 
caused  every  one  to  imagine  that  he  had  been  the 
victim  of  an  illusion.  At  length,  the  holy  prelate 
yielded  to  their  importunities,  and  prepared  to  begin 
the  consecration.  Then  an  unknown  voice  sounded 
in  the  astonished  ears  of  the  spectators,  filling  the 
whole  of  the  building,  and  repeating  these  words: 
“ Cessa , cessa , frater!  Capella  diuinitus  consecrata 
est  ” — “ Stop,  stop,  my  brother!  This  chapel  has  been 
divinely  consecrated.” 

Sixteen  years  later,  Conrad,  Ulric,  and  other  eye- 
witnesses of  the  event,  being  all  present  in  Rome,  bore 
solemn  testimony  to  its  truth.  Then,  when  the  due 
legal  investigations  had  been  made,  Leo  VIII  issued  a 
Bull,  in  order  that  the  fact  might  be  made  more  pub- 
licly known. 

Such  is  the  origin  of  the  famous  pilgrimage  of  Ein- 
siedeln,  or  Our  Lady  of  the  Hermits. 


Chapter  32 

fTbe  Bnbs  for  TKflbicb  tbe  Ibolg  Sacrifice  of 
tbe  fibass  is  ©ffereb 

'T^REVIOUS  to  the  fall,  man  had  only  two  duties  to 
,X  perform  in  regard  to  God.  He  was  bound  to 
adore  Him  as  the  supreme,  infinite,  and  eternal  Being; 
to  thank  Him  for  the  benefit  of  creation  and  of  preser- 
vation, as  well  as  for  all  the  gifts  so  lavishly  bestowed 
upon  him.  If  our  first  father  had  not  lost  the  innocence 
wherein  he  was  created,  adoration  and  thanksgiving 
would  have  constituted  our  sole  occupation;  for,  in 
that  case,  as  St.  Augustine  remarks,  men,  being  pure 


146  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

and  free  from  the  slightest  stain  of  sin,  would  have 
offered  themselves  to  God  as  holy  and  spotless  sacri- 
ficial victims.  But  since  the  revolt  of  our  first  parents, 
two  fresh  obligations  have  been  added  to  those  which 
we  have  just  mentioned:  it  is  necessary  to  appease 
the  anger  of  God,  Who  has  been  irritated  by  our  sins ; 
it  is  necessary  to  implore  His  aid  in  order  that  we  may 
keep  His  law  and  save  our  souls.  Now  it  is  precisely 
in  order  to  facilitate  to  men  the  fulfilment  of  these  four 
duties  that  Jesus  Christ  instituted  the  holy  sacrifice 
of  the  Mass,  and  it  is  with  similar  intentions  that  the 
Catholic  Church  offers  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Altar : 
to  acknowledge  God  to  be  the  supreme  Ruler  of  all 
created  things;  to  thank  Him  for  His  benefits;  to 
obtain  the  remission  of  our  sins,  and  finally  to  im- 
plore from  Him  the  graces  of  which  we  stand  in 
need. 

Let  us  now  consider  the  first  two  of  these  objects. 

The  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  is  offered  in  order  to 
acknowledge  God  to  be  the  supreme  Ruler  of  man  and 
of  all  creatures.  It  is,  in  fact,  enough  to  own  that 
God  is  our  Creator  in  order  to  be  compelled  to  acknowl- 
edge that  to  Him  we  owe  everything  that  we  possess. 
He  created  us;  He  preserves  us;  He  sustains  us  dur- 
ing every  instant  of  our  existence.  If,  therefore,  the 
child  is  bound  to  love  his  father,  the  servant  to  obey 
his  master,  the  subject  to  honor  his  sovereign;  it  is 
far  more  incumbent  upon  creatures  to  pay  homage  to 
their  Creator.  Since  the  majesty  of  God  is  infinite, 
the  homage  He  receives  ought  to  be  infinite  also. 

But  also,  how  is  it  possible  for  poor  and  miserable 
creatures  to  discharge  aright  this  important  duty  of 
adoration?  Even  if  they  acknowledge  their  nothing- 
ness before  God,  this  homage  can  not  possibly  be  pro- 
portionate to  the  infinite  majesty  of  the  most  high  and 
omnipotent  Deity. 

Praised  and  blessed  forever  be  Our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  Who  has  placed  within  our  reach  the  means  of 
adoring  God  as  He  ought  to  be  adored.  This  means 
is  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  In  this  adorable 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  147 

mystery  an  infinite  Being  humiliates  Himself,  anni- 
hilates Himself  before  a God  of  infinite  dignity.  Jesus 
Christ,  in  all  things  equal  to  the  Father,  presents  Him- 
self before  Him  in  a condition  of  absolute  dependence. 
He  no  longer  appears  before  His  Father  in  human 
form,  but  He  conceals  both  His  humanity  and  His 
divinity  under  the  veil  of  a morsel  of  bread  and  a small 
quantity  of  wine.  What  mortal  man  can  ever  appre- 
ciate aright  the  marvelous  humiliation  of  Jesus  in  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  ? 

It  is  by  thus  humbling  Himself  that  Our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  acknowledges  the  infinite  greatness  of  God,  and 
proves  to  Him  how  ardently  He  desires  to  see  Him 
adored  and  glorified  by  all  His  creatures.  Jesus  Christ 
offers  to  His  Father  the  sacrifice  of  His  body  and  blood, 
and  thus  renews  in  an  unbloody  manner  the  sacrifice 
He  offered  on  Calvary  for  the  glory  of  His  Father  and 
the  salvation  of  the  world. 

When  we  assist  at  holy  Mass  we  unite  our  adoration 
to  that  of.  Jesus,  immolated  upon  the  altar.  We  offer 
to  God  an  infinite  homage,  because  we  adore  Him 
through  Jesus,  with  Jesus,  and  in  Jesus.  Per  ipsumy 
cum  ipsoy  in  ipso. 

The  second  duty  of  man  in  regard  to  God  is  to  thank 
Him  for  His  benefits.  We  all  recognize  this  duty; 
when  the  priest  during  holy  Mass  invites  us  to  render 
thanks  to  the  Lord,  “ Gratias  agamus  Domino  Deo 
nostro ,”  we  answer  that  it  is  just  to  do  so  — “ Dignum 
et  justum  est.1}  Then,  addressing  himself  to  God  in 
our  name,  the  celebrant  adds:  “ Vere  dignum  et  jus- 
tum est , aequum  et  salutare  nos  tibi  semper  et  ubique 
gratias  agere , Dornine  sancte , Pater  omnipotensy 
aeterne  Deus  ” — “ It  is  truly  meet  and  just,  right  and 
salutary  that  we  should  always  and  in  all  places  give 
thanks  to  Thee,  O holy  Lord,  Father  almighty,  eternal 
God.” 

And  indeed  the  Lord  never  ceases  to  lavish  His 
benefits  upon  us;  we  are  surrounded  by  them  in  what- 
ever direction  we  turn  our  eyes.  All  that  we  possess, 
whether  in  the  order  of  nature  or  in  the  order  of  grace. 


148  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

comes  to  us  from  the  goodness  of  God.  “ What  hast 
thou  that  thou  hast  not  received  ? ” 1 St.  Paul  asks. 

Thus  it  is  our  bounden  duty  to  acknowledge  that  we 
owe  everything  to  divine  bounty,  and  give  proof  of  our 
gratitude.  But  what  can  we  do  for  this  end?  The 
offering  of  all  that  we  possess,  even  of  our  life,  does 
not  equal  the  least  of  the  benefits  we  receive  from  God. 
Are  we,  therefore,  alas,  compelled  to  be  ungrateful? 
Take  courage,  Christian  soul.  Jesus  Christ  supplies 
our  inability  in  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  which  for 
this  reason  is  termed  Eucharistic , that  is,  a sacrifice  of 
thanksgiving. 

By  the  oblation  of  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ, 
which  are  upon  our  altars,  we  make  an  offering  to  God 
that  surpasses  all  His  gifts.  For,  by  offering  to  the 
eternal  Father  His  divine  Son  slain  for  us,  we  offer  to 
Him  an  act  of  thanksgiving  the  excellence  of  which 
surpasses  all  the  gifts  which  He  can  bestow  upon  a 
creature. 

The  priest  who  is  celebrating  holy  Mass,  before  re- 
ceiving the  precious  blood  that  is  in  the  chalice,  ex- 
presses his  thankfulness  to  God  in  these  words: 
“ What  shall  I render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  the  things 
that  He  hath  rendered  unto  me?  I will  take  the 
chalice  of  salvation,  and  will  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord.”  The  chalice  of  salvation  is  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ,  offered  by  the  Saviour  as  an  act  of  thanksgiving. 
It  is,  therefore,  to  this  chalice  of  benediction  that  both 
the  priest  and  the  faithful  ought  to  have  recourse  in 
order  to  thank  the  Lord  in  a worthy  manner. 

St.  Ferdinand  of  Talavera  was  the  first  archbishop 
of  Granada.  While  he  lived  at  court,  the  courtiers, 
jealous  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the 
king,  who  entrusted  to  him  the  most  important  affairs 
of  state,  complained  that  although  he  was  called  to  fill 
the  highest  offices,  he  yet  found  time  to  assist  at  Mass 
every  day.  When  informed  by  a friend  of  the  adverse 
comments  concerning  his  conduct  which  his  enemies 
were  making,  the  prelate  replied,  quite  simply:  “ It  is 
1 Quid  habes  quod  non  accepisti.  — i Cor.  iv.  7. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  149 

indeed  because  an  earthly  monarch  has  seen  fit  to 
appoint  me  to  posts  which  are  many  in  number,  and 
involve  much  anxious  and  trying  exertion,  that  I be- 
take myself  to  the  King  of  heaven,  and  seek  to  renew 
my  strength  in  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  in  order 
that  I may  not  sink  under  the  heavy  burdens  which 
weigh  upon  me,  or  become  altogether  engrossed  by 
the  cares  inseparable  from  the  due  fulfilment  of  my 
obligations.” 


Chapter  33 

ttbe  lEnbs  for  Timblcb  tbe  1bol£  Sacrifice  of 
tbe  /[base  Is  ©ficreb 


( Continuation  of  the  Same  Subject) 


last  two;  which  are,  to  obtain  the  pardon  of  our  sins 
and  to  ask  for  the  graces  which  are  necessary  to  us. 

We  offend  God  every  day;  and  if  by  ourselves  we  are 
unable  to  praise  and  thank  Him  in  a suitable  manner, 
we  are  all  the  more  unable  to  appease  Him  when  we 
have  offended  Him.  All  the  sufferings  of  the  martyrs, 
the  penances  of  the  hermits,  the  labors  of  apostolic 
men,  are  not  sufficient  of  themselves  to  furnish  the 
reparation  needed  for  one  single  sin.  Because  sin 
offends  an  infinite  majesty,  an  infinite  reparation  is 
necessary  in  order  to  obtain  pardon  for  it.  Jesus  Christ 
can  alone  offer  this  reparation  for  sin,  and  He  offered 
it  by  dying  upon  the  cross  for  our  sake. 

The  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  being,  according  to 
the  teaching  of  the  holy  Council  of  Trent,  the  continua- 
tion and  application  of  the  bloody  sacrifice  of  Calvary, 
it  is  therefore  “ a propitiatory  sacrifice  by  which  we 
obtain  mercy  and  find  grace  in  seasonable  aid;  if  we 
approach  God  in  a contrite  and  penitent  spirit Upon 
the  altar  where  He  is  immolated  in  a mystical  manner, 
Jesus  Christ  presents  Himself  to  His  Father  and  re- 


150  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

calls  to  Him  the  passion  and  death  He  endured  for  us. 
He  repeats  the  words  He  addressed  to  Him  upon  the 
cross,  in  order  to  ask  pardon  for  His  executioners: 
“ Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they 
do.”  1 Father,  forgive  these  unbelievers  who  refuse 
to  acknowledge  My  divinity!  Ignosce  illis . Forgive 
the  mistaken  persons  who  reject  the  truths  of  My 
Gospel  and  believe  the  grossest  errors ; the  blasphemers 
who  profane  Thy  thrice  holy  name;  the  sacrilegious 
persons  who  give  Me  the  kiss  of  Judas!  Forgive  all 
sinners!  Nesciunt  quid  faciunt,  They  know  not  what 
they  do. 

What  would  become  of  us,  O Christian,  if  we  had 
not  upon  our  altars  the  sacred  Victim  in  order  to  appease 
the  justice  of  His  Father  ? How  often  would  the  anger 
of  God  have  broken  forth,  in  order  to  chastise  us  on 
account  of  our  innumerable  transgressions,  if  Jesus 
Christ  had  not  asked  mercy  and  pardon  for  us,  miser- 
able sinners! 

We  are  sometimes  amazed  at  the  patience  with  which 
God  bears  with  the  sinner,  with  the  manner  in  which 
He  takes  no  heed  of  the  grossest  offences,  but  we  for- 
get that  day  by  day  is  renewed  the  sacrifice  of  the 
Lamb  of  God,  Who  came  to  expiate  the  sins  of  the  world. 

St.  Gregory  the  Great  relates  the  story  of  a certain 
individual  who,  having  been  taken  captive  by  corsairs, 
was  banished  into  a distant  country,  and  kept  in  prison 
there  for  a long  time.  His  wife,  believing  him  to  be 
dead,  caused  the  Holy  Sacrifice  to  be  offered  for  him 
on  certain  days.  Whenever  Mass  was  said  for  his  in- 
tention he  was  partially  freed  from  his  chain.  He 
finally  succeeded  in  escaping  from  captivity,  and  re- 
turned home.  He  told  his  wife  how  his  fetters  dropped 
off  on  certain  days.  On  calculating  the  time,  they  be- 
came convinced  that  this  had  occurred  whenever  Mass 
had  been  offered  for  him.  By  this  we  may  judge, 
adds  the  same  saint,  how  great  is  the  efficacy  of  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  to  deliver  us  from  our  sins. 

1 Pater,  ignosce  illis,  nesciunt  enim  quid  faciunt.  — Luc. 
xxiii.  34. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  151 

We  constantly  need  the  help  of  God  in  regard  to  the 
necessities  of  the  body,  as  well  as  those  of  the  soul. 
But  we  must  pray,  if  we  desire  that  God  should  come 
to  our  assistance.  “ Ask,  and  you  shall  receive.” 
God  sometimes  anticipates  our  prayers,  and  bestows 
upon  us  graces  for  which  we  have  not  asked,  but  this 
is  an  exception;  the  rule  which  God  has  laid  down 
if  we  desire  to  obtain  His  favors,  is  that  we  should 
pray : “ Petite  et  accipietis  ” — “ Ask  and  you  shall 
receive.” 

Let  us,  however,  beware  of  imagining  that  our 
prayers  can  by  themselves  be  pleasing  to  God,  and 
favorably  received  by  Him.  By  ourselves  we  are  noth- 
ing and  can  not  lay  claim  to  anything ; how,  then,  can 
we  dare  to  ask  favors  from  God?  But  let  us  not  be 
afraid;  if  our  prayers  have  no  value  in  themselves,  we 
have  a means  whereby  we  may  impart  to  them  a great 
value,  and  cause  them  to  prevail  with  God.  This 
means  is  to  pray  in  the  name  and  through  the  merits  of 
Jesus  Christ.  That  is  why  Our  Lord  warns  us  in  the 
Gospel  in  the  following  words:  “ No  man  cometh  to 
the  Father  but  by  Me.”  1 Hence  it  is  that  He  calls 
Himself  the  way  in  which  we  must  walk,  if  we  desire 
to  draw  nigh  to  the  Father.  And  when  He  exhorts  us 
to  pray,  He  always  adds  that  we  must  do  this  in  His 
name.  “ Whatever  you  ask,”  He  says,  “ ask  it  in  My 
name  and  you  will  receive  it;  otherwise  you  will  receive 
nothing  and  your  petitions  will  not  be  even  heard.” 
Therefore  the  Church  never  fails  to  conclude  all  her 
prayers  in  these  words : “ Per  Dominion  nostrum 
Jesum  Christum  Filium  tuum  ” — “ Through  Our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  Thy  Son.” 

Now,  who  can  not  perceive  that  the  surest  means  of 
obtaining  favors  from  God  is  to  ask  for  them  in  the 
name  and  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  Who 
offers  Himself  upon  our  altars  ? St.  Paul  tells  us  that 
Jesus  Christ  has  been  made,  by  the  authority  of  God 
His  Father,  “ A priest  for  ever  according  to  the  order 
of  Melchisedech .”  And  where  does  He  exercise  His 
1 Nemo  venit  ad  Patrem  nisi  per  me.  — Joan.  xiv.  6. 


152  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

functions  more  completely  than  in  the  holy  Mass, 
where  He  daily  offers  Himself  by  the  hands  of  His 
ministers,  and  where  He  represents  in  the  sight  of  His 
Father  the  sufferings  He  endured  and  the  blood  He 
shed  for  us?  Yes,  whenever  we  meditate  upon  the 
state  in  which  He  remains  beneath  the  sacramental 
species,  we  perceive  with  the  eyes  of  faith  that  He 
is  there  as  a Mediator  between  God  and  us,  in  order 
to  obtain  all  the  graces  of  which  we  stand  in  need. 
If  it  be  true  that  a prayer  is  only  received  by  God 
when  it  is  offered  in  the  name  of  His  Son,  it  becomes 
evident  that  the  most  acceptable  and  the  most  potent 
prayer  which  we  can  offer  is  that  which  we  offer  during 
holy  Mass,  because  Jesus  Christ,  our  Advocate  and 
our  Mediator,  Himself  receives  it  and  presents  it  to 
His  Father. 

Two  school  friends  met  again  after  years  of  separa- 
tion. One  was  pale  and  thin,  and  carried  in  her  arms 
a poor,  puny  little  child;  in  a word,  everything  in  her 
appearance  spoke  of  poverty.  The  other  was  neatly 
and  suitably  dressed,  and  her  countenance  wore  a 
happy  expression. 

“ How  contented  you  look,”  her  friend  began;  “ as 
for  myself,  I succeed  in  nothing.  Though  I try  to 
economize,  I can  not  make  both  ends  meet.  I am 
obliged  to  be  always  scolding,  and  I drive  my  husband 
from  home.  He  spends  in  the  evening  what  he  earns 
during  the  day,  our  door  is  literally  besieged  by  cred- 
itors, and  we  are  really  in  want  of  everything.” 

Great  was  her  surprise  when  she  heard  with  hovr 
slender  an  income  her  friend  caused  peace  and  plenty 
to  prevail  in  her  abode. 

“ I wish  I knew  your  secret,”  she  said;  “ I can  not 
help  envying  your  lot.” 

“ Nothing  could  be  simpler,”  was  the  reply ; “ if  you 
really  wish  to  learn  it,  you  must  come  and  see  me  very 
early  to-morrow  morning.” 

The  unhappy  mother  kept  the  appointment.  Her 
friend  took  her  to  hear  Mass  in  a neighboring  church, 
and  did  this  for  several  successive  days,  without 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  153 

attempting  to  satisfy  the  curiosity  of  her  companion 
in  any  other  way. 

The  latter  grew  impatient,  and  at  last  she  exclaimed 
that  she  was  tired  of  this  maneuver  and  wanted  to  learn 
her  friend’s  secret,  not  to  spend  her  own  time  in  the 
church. 

“ Is  it  possible  that  you  have  not  guessed  it?  ” was 
the  reply.  “ Do  you  not  see  that  it  is  He  to  Whom  I 
pray  every  morning,  Who  pours  forth  His  blessings 
upon  my  humble  household?  That  is  my  secret,  I 
have  no  other.” 

Let  us  now  recapitulate,  devout  soul,  all  the  ends  for 
which  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  is  offered.  It  is 
a sacrifice  at  once  of  adoration , of  thanksgiving , of  pro- 
pitiation, and  of  impetration.  By  this  sacrifice  we  adore 
God,  we  thank  Him,  we  appease  Him,  and  we  pray  to 
Him  through  Jesus  Christ  and  with  Jesus  Christ. 
But  in  order  to  unite  our  prayers  with  those  of  the 
Saviour,  it  is  necessary  that  we  should  hear  holy  Mass 
suitably  and  worthily.  It  is  therefore  of  the  utmost 
importance  that  we  should  know  the  right  manner  of 
doing  this.  We  will  now  proceed  to  give  some  practical 
advice  upon  this  subject. 


Chapter  34 

Parlous  dBetboOs  of  Ibearlrtg  Ibolg  dbass 

^^HE  different  ways  of  assisting  at  Mass  may  be 
reduced  to  these  three  principal  ones : that  of  St. 
Leonard  of  Port  Maurice,  which  in  his  “ Sacred 
Manual”  he  recommends  to  Religious;  that  of  St. 
Francis  de  Sales,  entitled:  “ Devout  Meditations  on 
all  the  Mysteries  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice,”  and  finally, 
the  most  common  method,  which  consists  in  following 
the  ceremonies  of  the  Mass,  apprehending  their  mean- 
ing, and  offering  prayers  in  accordance  with  them. 
The  object  of  St.  Leonard,  in  his  method,  is  to  induce 
the  faithful  soul  to  unite  herself  to  Our  Lord  in  the 
four  principal  ends  of  His  sacrifice,  which  are : Adora- 


154  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

tion,  Expiation  or  Satisfaction,  Thanksgiving,  and  Peti- 
tion. And  this  is  how  the  pious  missionary  arranges 
his  four  great  acts  of  religion. 

From  the  beginning  of  Mass  to  the  Gospel,  Adora- 
tion and  the  acts  which  belong  to  it,  such  as  praise, 
humiliation,  and  self-abasement  in  the  presence  of  the 
divine  majesty;  from  the  Gospel  to  the  Elevation, 
Expiation , grief  on  account  of  one’s  sins,  good  resolu- 
tions, abandonment  to  the  justice  of  God;  from  the 
Elevation  to  the  Communion , Thanksgiving,  based  upon 
the  consideration  of  the  benefits  which  have  been  re- 
ceived, and  on  account  of  which  the  soul  pays  its  debt, 
by  offering  to  God  the  divine  Victim  in  exchange; 
finally,  from  the  Communion  to  the  conclusion,  Petition 
for  all  those  graces  which  are  needful  for  the  Church 
as  well  as  for  ourselves. 

“ Thus  the  devout  soul  forms  these  acts  in  union 
with  Our  Lord,  Who  is  the  first  to  address  them  to  His 
heavenly  Father  upon  the  altar,  as  He  formerly  offered 
them  to  His  Father  on  Calvary. 

“ It  may  perhaps  be  thought  that  this  method  is 
beyond  the  reach  of  many  persons.  We  will  now 
adduce  another  which  will  no  doubt  be  found  to  suit 
a large  number  of  souls,  the  method,  namely,  of  St. 
Francis  de  Sales. 

“ This  method  consists  principally  in  discerning  in 
the  ceremonies  of  the  Mass,  as  they  succeed  one  an- 
other, and  in  the  special  feature  of  each,  a reference  to 
some  circumstance  of  Our  Lord’s  passion.” 

It  appears  that  the  devout  recollection  of  the  passion 
of  the  Saviour  while  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  is 
being  offered  up  is  in  accordance  with  the  intentions 
of  the  Church,  because  by  the  principal  ceremonies  of 
the  Mass  she  endeavors  to  recall  to  our  mind  the 
various  incidents  in  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ.  Thus, 
when  the  priest  ascends  the  steps  of  the  altar,  we  ought 
to  remember  the  entrance  of  the  Saviour  into  the 
Garden  of  Olives:  when  the  priest  bows  down  at  the 
Confiteor,  it  is  Our  Lord  prostrated  face  downward  upon 
the  ground  and  entering  into  the  agony  where  He 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  155 

sweat  great  drops  of  blood.  When  the  priest  moves 
from  one  side  of  the  altar  to  the  other,  we  may  repre- 
sent to  ourselves  the  Saviour  brought  before  the  tri- 
bunals of  Annas,  Caiphas,  Herod,  and  Pilate.  The 
Secret  may  cause  us  to  think  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  scribes  and  Pharisees  plotted  against  the  life  of 
Jesus.  We  omit,  for  the  sake  of  brevity,  a number  of 
considerations  which  we  might  make,  and  we  enter 
upon  the  principal  part  of  the  Mass,  which  extends 
from  the  Elevation  to  the  Communion  of  the  priest, 
inclusively. 

When  the  priest  bows  down  in  order  to  pronounce 
the  words  of  consecration,  let  us  behold  with  the  eyes 
of  faith  Jesus  Christ  really  present  under  the  species 
of  bread  and  wine,  renewing  in  the  sight  of  His  Father, 
the  supreme  oblation  which  He  made  of  Himself  on 
Calvary.  The  elevation  of  the  Host  is  the  emblem  of 
Jesus  Christ  lifted  up  upon  the  cross,  and  that  of  the 
chalice  represents  the  blood  He  shed  for  our  salvation. 
The  fraction  of  the  Host  indicates  the  death  of  the 
Saviour;  the  particle  of  the  Host  which  is  placed  in 
the  chalice,  the  descent  of  the  soul  of  Jesus  Christ  into 
Limbo.  Finally,  the  Communion  of  the  priest  sym- 
bolizes the  burial  of  Our  Lord.  This  method  is,  as 
may  be  seen,  very  simple,  and  at  the  same  time  very 
natural,  since  holy  Mass  is  the  memorial  of  the  passion. 

Finally,  we  have  spoken  of  a third  method,  which 
consists  in  following  mentally,  or  with  the  help  of  a 
book,  the  ceremonies  of  the  Mass,  entering  into  their 
meaning,  and  offering  up  prayers  which  correspond 
with  them.  Every  one  is  at  liberty  to  select  the 
method  which  he  prefers,  and  which  is  most  in  har- 
mony with  the  dispositions  of  his  soul. 

We  will  conclude  this  chapter  in  the  same  words 
with  which  we  might  have  begun  it.  The  surest 
means  of  hearing  holy  Mass  perfectly  is  to  assist  at  it 
in  a great  spirit  of  faith.  This  faith  consists  in  firmly 
believing  what  holy  Church  believes  and  teaches  in 
regard  to  holy  Mass.  Let  us,  then,  re-awaken  our 
faith  in  the  infinite  merits  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice,  when 


156  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

we  are  about  to  assist  at  it,  and  then  we  shall  hear  it 
worthily,  and  this  pious  action  will  be  for  us  a great 
means  of  promoting  our  sanctification. 


Chapter  35 

Cbe  JBest  THHag  of  assisting  at  flbass 
Cbe  Sublimity  of  tbc  /Ibost  Ibols  Sacrifice1 

V y\  r'HICH  is  the  best  way  of  assisting  at  Mass? 
VJlA>  In  his  introduction  to  “ Prayers  for  Holy  Com- 
munion from  the  Sarum  Missal,”  Bishop  Riddell  of 
Northampton  makes  the  following  reply  to  this  question : 

“ Of  the  many  ways  of  assisting  at  Mass,  the  best 
way  is  that  in  which  each  person,  by  saying  the  words 
of  the  Missal  more  closely,  allies  and  associates  him- 
self with  the  priest  who  is  celebrating.  To  identify 
one’s  self  thus  with  him  is  to  unite  with  our  divine  Lord 
Himself,  Who  is  there  and  then  acting  as  the  priest 
according  to  the  order  of  Melchisedech. 

“ When  the  faithful  thus  act  with  the  celebrant,  and 
with  the  High  Priest,  Jesus  Christ,  then,  indeed,  is  it 
true  that  they  are,  as  St.  Peter  says,  a holy  priesthood 
to  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices  acceptable  to  God  by 
Jesus  Christ. 

“ If  so,  what  a pity  it  is  so  few  make  use  of  the 
Missal! 

“ All  books  of  devotion  are  good  at  Mass:  it  is  quite 
right  to  say  the  rosary  at  Mass ; but  the  Missal  is  pref- 
erable, being  pre-eminently  the  product  of  the  mind 
and  heart  of  the  Church,  filled  and  expressed  with 
reverence  and  love  for  the  divine  Victim,  Who  day  by 
day,  in  every  part  of  the  world,  sacrifices  Himself  again 
for  the  glory  of  His  Father,  and  for  the  salvation  of 
souls. 

“ It  is  pre-eminently  the  Book  for  Mass,  as  its  name 
implies,  and  nothing  can  exceed  the  beauty  of  the  Col- 
lects and  other  prayers. 

1 Excerpt  from  the  Introduction  to  The  New  Missal  for 
Every  Day. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  157 

“ Gladly,  therefore,  would  I see  the  Missal  more 
frequently  in  the  hands  of  the  faithful.” 

There  are,  indeed,  many  excellent  Mass-books,  but 
the  Mass-book  par  excellence  is  the  Mass-book  of  the 
Church,  the  Roman  Missal.  Its  regular  use  is  to  be 
recommended  for  this  reason,  also,  that  we  are  thereby 
made  familiar  with  and  almost  imperceptibly  led  to 
make  devout  reflections  upon  the  inspired  writings, 
notably  the  Psalms,  of  which  it  contains  so  many  apt 
and  beautiful  citations. 

The  divine  Spirit  dwells  in  the  Church  ever  since  the 
day  of  Pentecost,  and  He  it  is  that  prompts  her  prayers 
and  her  canticles.  As  Dom  Prosper  Gueranger  says 
in  “The  Liturgical  Year”: 

“ Under  the  impulse  of  that  Spirit  which  animated 
the  admirable  Psalmist  and  the  prophets,  the  holy 
Church,  at  one  time,  takes  the  subject  of  her  canticles 
from  the  Books  of  the  Old  Testament;  at  another  time, 
showing  herself  to  be  the  daughter  of  and  sister  of  the 
holy  apostles,  she  intones  the  canticles  written  in  the 
Books  of  the  New  Covenant;  and  finally,  remember- 
ing that  she,  too,  has  had  given  to  her  the  trumpet  and 
harp,  she  at  times  gives  way  to  the  Spirit  which  animates 
her,  and  sings  her  own  new  Canticle . From  these  three 
sources  comes  the  divine  element  which  we  call  the 
liturgy. 

“ The  prayer  of  the  Church  is,  therefore,  the  most 
pleasing  to  the  ear  and  heart  of  God,  and  consequently 
the  most  efficacious  of  all  prayers.  Happy,  then,  is 
he  who  prays  with  the  Church,  and  unites  his  own  peti- 
tions with  those  of  this  Bride,  who  is  so  dear  to  her 
Lord  that  He  gives  her  all  she  asks.  It  was  for  this 
reason  that  our  blessed  Saviour  taught  us  to  say: 
i Our  Father,*  and  not  i My  Father  *;  ‘ give  us,  for- 
give us,  deliver  us,*  and  not  ‘ give  me,  forgive  me, 
deliver  me.* 

“ The  spirit  of  prayer  — even  prayer  itself  — has 
been  sought  for  in  methods  and  prayer-books,  which 
contain,  it  is  true,  laudable,  yea,  pious,  thoughts,  but, 
after  all,  only  human  thoughts.  By  asserting  the  im- 


158  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

mense  superiority  of  liturgical  over  individual  prayer 
we  do  not  say  that  individual  methods  should  be  sup- 
pressed ; we  would  only  wish  them  to  be  kept  in  their 
proper  place.” 

Apropos  of  this  a pious  author  writes:  “ For  the  laity 
assisting  at  holy  Mass,  the  use  of  any  particular  form 
of  prayer  is  not  of  obligation.  Each  one  may  read 
from  such  approved  books  of  devotions  or  recite  such 
prayers  as  most  appeal  to  him.  Or,  again,  if  he  please, 
he  may  pass  the  time  of  holy  Mass  in  purely  mental 
prayer.  Or,  in  fine,  he  may  in  a special  sense  make 
his  own,  by  reverently  listening  to  them,  or  repeating 
them  over,  the  very  words  put  by  holy  Church  into  the 
mouths  of  her  ministers  standing  at  the  altar  and  of 
the  singers  and  others  charged  in  her  name  to  respond 
to  them. 

“ Nevertheless,  from  all  alike,  devout  attention  is 
required;  and  while  hearing  holy  Mass  each  one 
present  should  diligently  heed  the  chief  moments  in 
its  celebration,  and  never  forget  that  the  Sacrifice  is 
his  own,  as  well  as  the  priest’s,  together  with  whom  it  is 
his  privilege  to  offer  and  pray. 

“ There  are  many  excellent  manuals  of  prayer  in  the 
English  language  containing  appropriate  and  varied 
methods  of  hearing  holy  Mass.  The  Missal  is  in- 
tended for  those  whose  devotion  leads  them  to  prefer 
to  follow  the  Sacred  Rite,  as  it  were,  step  by  step  and 
word  by  word.” 

In  this  connection,  some  reflections  on  the  sublimity 
of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrifice  will  not  be  out  of  place.  As 
we  read  in  the  Introductory  of  a very  commendable 
little  book:  “ The  Mass  and  Its  Folklore  ” (published 
by  the  Catholic  Truth  Society),  “ The  Mass  is  the 
liturgical  rite  whereby  the  Catholic  Church,  from  the 
Last  Supper  until  this  very  morning,  has  celebrated 
throughout  the  world  the  divine  mystery  of  the  passion 
and  death  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  is  His  per- 
petuation of  the  one  sacrifice  of  the  cross.  It  is  the 
great  act  of  worship  of  historic  Christianity,  the  main- 
spring of  the  Church’s  mechanism,  the  throbbing  heart 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  159 

of  the  Bride  of  Christ.  Whether  celebrated  by  mitred 
prelate  amid  the  clustered  columns  and  tinted  lights  of 
some  Gothic  cathedral,  with  all  the  splendid  accessories 
of  ecclesiastical  pomp,  or  by  a poor  blackrobe  mission- 
ary in  a wigwam  of  the  far  West,  the  Mass  is  the  su- 
preme and  central  Catholic  worship  — the  one  great 
\ reality  — as  Carlyle  deemed  it,  which  yet  survives  in 
an  age  of  unsubstantial  insincerities.  As  a still  more 
modern  thinker,  Mr.  Augustine  Birrell,  has  pithily 
said;  4 It  is  the  Mass  that  matters.’  It  was  for  the 
Mass  that  the  ancient  Briton  constructed  his  wattled 
eglwys , the  Gael  his  dry-stone  oratory.  For  this  the 
Norman  baron  built  the  parish  church  hard  by  his 
manor-house,  and  the  lord  abbot  erected  his  stately 
minster.  For  the  sake  of  the  Mass  the  painter,  the 
goldsmith,  the  scribe,  and  the  limner  produced  the 
masterpieces  of  art  which  are  the  despair  of  our  artis- 
tically degenerate  age. 

44  The  Mass  has  left  upon  the  English  language  marks 
which  centuries  of  Protestantism  have  not  been  able 
to  efface.  Our  greatest  festival  is  called  Christmas, 
i.e.j  4 the  Christ-Mass.’ . An  attempt  was  made,  in  the 
age  of  Puritan  ascendency,  not  only  to  abolish  Christ- 
mas, but  also  to  eradicate  its  name  by  substituting  the 
term  4 Christ-tide  ’4  but  ancient  custom  proved  too 
strong  for  the  innovators,  and  the  Mass  conquered 
once  more.  We  have  also  Candlemas,  Lammas,  Martin- 
mas, Michaelmas,  Childermas,  and  other  words  of  simi- 
lar formation  — which  is  one  almost  peculiar  to  the 
English  tongue.  The  earliest  Mass  in  our  old  churches 
was  called  the  Morrow-Mass.  There  were  also  the 
Jesus-Mass  and  the  Lady-Mass.  In  the  same  man- 
ner were  formed  the  old  English  words  4 Mass-priest  ’ 
and  4 Mass-penny.’  In  a later  age  the  Protestants 
dubbed  our  poor  chapels  4 Mass-houses  ’ ; and  we  still 
sometimes  call  a Missal  a 4 Mass-book.’  ” 

There  is  in  this  little  book  an  illuminating  chapter 
on  the  Elevation  in  which  we  are  informed  that  the  act 
of  homage  which  has  become  so  popular  since  Pius  X 
— the  Pope  of  the  Eucharist  — attached  to  it  an  indul- 


160  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


gence  of  seven  years  and  seven  quarantines  — namely,, 
the  act  of  looking  on  the  sacred  host  at  the  Elevation 
of  the  Mass  — was  quite  a common  practice  in  the 
ages  of  faith.  To  gain  the  above-mentioned  indul- 
gence it  is  requisite  to  say  with  faith,  piety,  and  love, 
the  words,  “ My  Lord  and  My  God,”  while  looking 
upon  the  sacred  Host  at  the  Elevation  in  the  Mass. 

On  this  subject  “ The  Mass  and  Its  Folklore  ” says: 
“ In  the  Middle  Ages  the  faithful  were  accustomed  to 
look  at  the  uplifted  Host  before  bending  in  prayer,  and 
there  is  abundant  evidence  that  importance  was  at- 
tached to  this  observance  — so  much  so,  indeed,  that 
attendance  at  Mass  was  often  spoken  of  as  ‘ seeing 
God.’  ” 

Dan  Lydgate,  in  his  “ Vertue  of  the  Masse,”  thus 
counsels  his  readers  in  his  Renaissance  style: 

“ First  every  morrow,  or  Phoebus  shine  bright 
Let  pale  Aurora  conduct  you  and  dress 
To  holy  church,  of  Christ,  to  have  a sight. 

For  chief  preservative  against  all  ghostly  sickness.” 

We  have  also  noticed  similar  phraseology  in  the 
ancient  Welsh  treatise  entitled  “ The  Merits  (or  Vir- 
tues) of  Seeing  the  Body  of  Christ.” 

The  best  known  medieval  manual  of  devotions, 
“ The  Lay-Folks’  Mass-Book  ” (composed  by  an  un- 
known author  in  the  thirteenth  century),  says: 

“ When  time  is  nigh  of  sacring 
A little  bell  men  use  to  ring, 

Then  shalt  thou  do  reverence 
To  Jesu  Christ’s  own  presence, 

That  may  loose  all  sinful  bands. 

Kneel  and  hold  up  both  thy  hands, 

And  so  the  Elevation  Do  Thou  Behold 
For  that  is  He  that  Judas  sold, 

And  then  was  scourged,  and  set  on  Rood, 

And  for  mankind  there  shed  His  blood, 

And  died,  and  rose,  and  went  to  heaven, 

And  thence  shall  come  to  judge  us,  even 
Every  man  after  that  he  has  done. 

That  same  is  He  thou  lookst  upon: 

This  is  the  truth  of  Holy  Kirk.” 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  161 

In  reference  to  the  virtue  of  the  Mass  we  read: 

“ The  worthiest  thing,  most  of  goodness, 

In  all  this  world,  it  is  the  Mass. 

If  a thousand  clerks  did  nought  else 
(According  as  St.  Jerome  tells) 

But  told  the  virtues  of  Mass-singing 
And  the  profit  of  Mass-hearing, 

Yet  should  they  never  the  fifth  part, 

For  all  their  wit  and  all  their  art, 

Tell  the  virtue,  meeds,  and  pardon 
To  them  that  with  devotion, 

In  cleanness  and  with  good  intent, 

Do  worship  to  this  sacrament.” 

To  quote  again  from  “ The  Mass  and  Its  Folklore 
“ Much  as  devout  Catholics  of  the  present  day  revere 
the  Holy  Sacrifice,  it  is  only  with  difficulty  that  we  can 
form  an  adequate  notion  of  the  profound  and  enthu- 
siastic devotion  felt  toward  the  Mass  by  the  people  of 
this  country  in  the  ages  of  faith.  One  is  amazed  in 
reading  ancient  manuscripts  at  the  rapturous  senti- 
ments and  language  of  their  writers  on  this  subject. 
To  say  that  the  Mass  was  the  center  and  heart  of  our 
ancestors’  religion  is  to  employ  an  inadequate  phrase; 
it  was  their  very  life  and  breath.  It  is  to  the  point  to 
mention  that  the  commonest  oath  in  England  was  4 by 
the  Mass  ’ — for  people  swear  by  what  they  regard  as 
most  sacred. 

“ No  one  who  has  read  the  old  Welsh  and  English 
tales,  on  which  Tennyson  founded  his  Arthurian  idylls, 
can  have  failed  to  be  struck  with  their  frequent  allusions 
to  the  Mass : King  Arthur’s  knights,  good,  bad,  and  in- 
different, all  turn  in  to  wayside  chapels  to  hear  Mass, 
as  naturally  as  in  the  present  day  their  descendants 
would  enter  the  newsrooms  of  their  various  clubs.  It 
would  seem,  too,  that  the  hearing  of  Mass  always  pre- 
ceded the  taking  of  the  morning  meal : ‘ And  on  the 
morrow  he  heard  Mass,  and  brake  his  fast,’  is  one  of 
the  commonplaces  of  the  chronicles  of  the  Round 
Table.  ‘ And  Sir  Launcelot  awoke,  and  went  and  took 
his  horse,  and  rode  all  day  and  all  that  night  in  a forest; 


162  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


and  at  the  last  he  was  aware  of  a hermitage,  and  a 
chapel  that  stood  between  two  cliffs.  And  then  he 
heard  a little  bell  ring  to  Mass;  and  thither  he  rode, 
and  alighted,  and  tied  his  horse  to  the  gate,  and  heard 
Mass.  And  he  that  sang  the  Mass  was  the  Bishop  of 
Canterbury.’ 

“ Lydgate  makes  allusion  to  certain  pious  beliefs 
which  prevailed  in  England,  as  probably  they  still  do 
in  some  Catholic  countries.  The  first  of  these  beliefs 
is  that  devout  attendance  at  Mass  brings  a signal  bless- 
ing upon  temporal  concerns  in  general:  4 

“ ‘ Hearing  of  Mass  giveth  great  reward, 

Ghostly  health  against  all  sickness  . . . 

And  unto  folk  that  goen  on  pilgrimage, 

It  maketh  them  strong,  getteth  them  secureness 
Graciously  to  complete  their  voyage. 

The  mighty  man,  it  maketh  him  more  strong, 
Recomforteth  the  sick  in  his  languor, 

Giveth  patience  to  them  that  suffer  wrong, 

The  labourer  beareth  up  in  his  labour ; 

To  thoughtful  folks,  refreshing  and  succour, 

Gracious  counsel  to  folk  disconsolate ; 

Good  speed,  good  hap,  in  city,  town,  and  house, 

To  all  that  hear  devoutly  Mass  at  morrow ; 

Hearing  of  Mass  doth  passing  great  avail.’ 

“ It  is,  perhaps,  little  wonder  that  our  forefathers, 
profoundly  impressed  as  they  were  with  the  mystic 
sanctity  and  power  of  the  Eucharistic  rite,  should  have 
early  come  to  look  upon  the  Mass  as  an  invincible 
weapon  against  malignant  spirits.  St.  Augustine  men- 
tions the  laying  of  ghosts  by  the  mention  of  Mass  in  a 
haunted  house.  The  writer  of  an  old  Welsh  manu- 
script (Cardiff  Free  Library,  MS.  17,119,  sixteenth  cen- 
tury), citing  this  instance,  moralizes  thus:  * You  may 
see  the  fruit  of  the  Mass  in  the  driving  out  of  devils, 
who  are  unable  to  endure  the  precious  Sacrifice.’  On 
the  other  hand,  the  ancient  Fathers,  as  is  well  known, 
are  fond  of  insisting  that  angels  surround  the  altar  at 
the  moment  of  the  Consecration.  We  have,  also,  in 
the  prayer  at  Mass  Jube  haec  perferri , a request  that 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  163 

God  will  cause  the  offering  to  be  presented  to  Him 
* by  the  hands  of  Thy  holy  angel ’ — the  angel  espe- 
cially associated  with  the  mysteries  of  the  Blessed 
Eucharist.” 

A very  eloquent  tribute  to  the  virtues  of  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  is  embodied  in  the  Irish  proverb : “ Ni  luach 
go  h-Aiffrionn  De  eisteachd  ” — “ There  is  no  reward 
like  hearing  God’s  Mass.” 

In  thoroughly  Catholic  lands  at  the  present  day,  as 
in  England  before  the  Reformation,  every  undertaking, 
every  anxious  aspiration  is  commended  to  almighty 
God  and  His  saints  by  the  hearing  of  Mass.  Mass  is 
heard  daily  by  the  devout  in  those  countries,  as  it  is, 
indeed,  in  this.  Our  ancestors  could  no  more  dispense 
with  it  than  with  their  bodily  food.  They  realized  the 
full  significance  of  the  petition:  “ Panem  nostrum 
quotidianum  da  nobis  hodie .” 

Glowing  words  of  praise  in  reference  to  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  are  those  which  Cardinal  Newman  speaks  by 
the  mouth  of  his  hero  in  “ Loss  and  Gain  “I  de- 
clare, to  me  nothing  is  so  consoling,  so  piercing,  so 
thrilling,  so  overcoming,  as  the  Mass,  said  as  it  is 
among  us.  I could  attend  Masses  forever  and  not  be 
tired.  It  is  not  a mere  form  of  words,  it  is  a great 
ACTION  — the  greatest  action  that  can  be  on  earth. 
It  is  not  the  invocation  merely,  but,  if  I dare  use  the 
word,  the  evocation  of  the  Eternal.  He  becomes 
present  on  the  altar  in  flesh  and  blood,  before  Whom 
angels  bow  and  devils  tremble.  This  is  that  awful 
event  which  is  the  end  and  is  the  interpretation  of 
every  part  of  the  solemnity.  Words  are  necessary,  but 
as  means,  not  as  ends;  they  are  not  mere  addresses  to 
the  throne  of  grace,  they  are  instruments  of  what  is  far 
higher,  of  consecration,  of  sacrifice.  They  hurry  on, 
as  if  impatient  to  fulfil  their  mission.  Quickly  they  go 
— the  whole  is  quick;  for  they  are  all  parts  of  one 
integral  action.  Quickly  they  pass,  for  the  Lord  Jesus 
goes  with  them,  as  He  passed  along  the  lake  in  the 
days  of  His  flesh,  quickly  calling  first  one  and  then  an- 
other. Quickly  they  pass,  because  as  the  lightning 


164  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

which  shineth  from  one  part  of  the  heaven  unto  the 
other,  so  is  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man.  Quickly 
they  pass;  for  they  are  as  the  words  of  Moses,  when 
the  Lord  came  down  in  the  cloud,  calling  on  the  name 
of  the  Lord  as  He  passed  by:  4 The  Lord,  the  Lord 
God,  merciful  and  gracious,  long-suffering  and  abun- 
dant in  goodness  and  truth.’  And  as  Moses  on  the 
mountain*  so  we,  too,  4 make  haste  and  bow  our  heads 
to  the  earth,  and  adore.’  So  we,  all  around,  each  in 
his  place,  looking  out  for  the  great  Advent,  4 waiting 
for  the  moving  of  the  water,’  each  in  his  place,  with  his 
own  heart,  with  his  own  wants,  with  his  own  thoughts, 
with  his  own  intentions,  with  his  own  prayers,  separate 
but  concordant,  watching  what  is  going  on,  watching  its 
progress,  uniting  in  its  consummation;  not  painfully 
and  hopelessly  following  a hard  form  of  prayer  from 
beginning  to  end,  but  like  a concert  of  musical  instru- 
ments, each  differing  but  concurring  in  a sweet  har- 
mony, we  take  our  part  with  God’s  priest,  supporting 
him,  yet  guided  by  him.  There  are  little  children  there, 
and  old  men,  and  simple  laborers,  and  students  in  semi- 
naries, priests  preparing  for  Mass,  priests  making  their 
thanksgiving;  there  are  innocent  maidens,  and  there 
are  penitent  sinners;  but  out  of  these  many  minds 
rises  one  Eucharistic  hymn,  and  the  great  Action  is  the 
measure  and  the  scope  of  it.” 

The  first  end  for  which  the  Mass  is  offered  is  “ to 
give  God  honor  and  glory”  On  this  subject  Father 
McDonnell,  S.  J.,  writes  as  follows  in  his  excellent  little 
treatise  on  the  Mass : 1 

44  To  give  God  honor  and  glory,  and  thereby  to  save 
our  souls,  is  the  one  great  end  of  our  existence.  4 Man 
was  created,’  says  St.  Ignatius  in  the  beginning  of  the 
4 Spiritual  Exercises,’  4 to  praise,  reverence,  and  serve 
God,  and  thereby  save  his  soul.’  For  this  we  were 
sent  by  God  into  the  world.  Now,  in  the  Mass  we  fulfil, 
in  a supreme  degree,  our  function  on  the  earth,  as 
rational  beings,  of  praising  and  reverencing  God. 

1 Vide  Daily  Mass,  or,  The  Mystic  Treasures  of  the  Holy 
Sacrifice,  by  Rev.  J.  McDonnell,  S.J.  (Seventh  Edition.) 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  165 

“ ‘ The  homage  that  we  pay  to  God,’  says  Sanchez, 
1 the  glory  that  we  give  Him  in  the  Mass,  is  so  great 
that  no  greater  service,  no  greater  honor,  could  be 
shown  Him  upon  earth.  For  thereby  we  testify  that 
in  His  sovereign  majesty  He  is  worthy  that,  not  the 
blood  of  calves  and  goats,  but  the  most  precious  blood 
of  His  first-born  Son  should  be  offered  to  Him  in 
sacrifice.’ 

“ ‘ What  is  holy  Mass/  asks  Marchantius,  1 but  an 
embassy  sent  to  the  ever  blessed  Trinity  with  a gift  of 
priceless  value,  which  we  present  to  three  divine 
Persons,  in  recognition  of  their  dominion  over  all 
creatures  and  of  our  dependence  upon  them  ? ’ 

“ St.  Lawrence  Justinian  says:  ‘ It  is  certain  that 
nothing  gives  God  greater  glory  than  the  spotless  Vic- 
tim of  the  altar,  which  Christ  ordained  to  be  sacrificed 
in  order  that  His  Church  might  offer  praise  to  God.* 

“ ‘ In  the  Mass/  says  Molina,  ‘ the  first-born  Son  of 
God  is  offered  to  the  Father  with  all  the  praise  and 
glory  which  He  rendered  Him  on  earth.’ 

“ This  praise  was  infinite  and  absolutely  worthy  of 
the  divine  Majesty,  inasmuch  as  it  was  offered  by  the 
Man-God;  therefore,  it  is  clear  that  one  Mass  gives 
more  honor  and  praise  to  God  than  all  the  efforts  of  all 
creatures  to  the  end  of  time  and  through  eternity. 

“ To  this  effect  a learned  writer  of  the  seventeenth 
century  speaks  as  follows:  ‘ If  all  the  powers  of  heaven 
should  unite  to  form  a solemn  procession  in  honor  of 
the  Holy  Trinity,  at  the  head  of  which  would  be  the 
Mother  of  God,  the  chief  of  all  creatures,  surrounded 
by  the  nine  choirs  of  angels,  followed  by  innumerable 
companies  of  the  saints  and  blessed  singing  with  the 
sweetest  voices,  playing  on  the  most  melodious  instru- 
ments, this  triumphal  procession  would  doubtless  be 
to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God,  and  would  be  pleasing 
in  His  sight.  But  if  at  the  close  of  the  procession  the 
Church  Militant  were  to  commission  one  single  priest 
to  say  one  Mass  in  honor  of  the  ever  blessed  Trinity, 
this  one  priest,  with  his  one  Mass,  would  offer  an  in- 
comparably higher  tribute  of  praise  than  that  glorious 


166  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


procession  had  done.  Nay,  it  would  be  as  far  superior 
in  glory  and  sublimity  as  the  Son  of  God  is  exalted 
above  all  created  things/  ” 

Hence  we  learn  how  transcendent  is  the  praise  and 
glory  that  we  offer  to  God,  even  by  a single  Mass,  and 
how  supremely  great  a happiness  we  should  esteem  it 
to  be  able  to  assist  so  often  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice. 

The  second  end  for  which  the  Mass  is  offered  is  to 
give  thanks  to  God  for  His  benefits. 

“ Put  in  one  heap,”  says  St.  Leonard  of  Port  Maurice, 
“ all  the  gifts,  all  the  graces,  you  have  received  from 
God  — so  many  gifts  of  nature  and  of  grace ; yes,  the 
very  life,  too,  of  His  Son  Jesus,  and  His  death  suffered 
for  us,  which  in  themselves  immeasurably  swell  the 
great  debt  which  we  owe  to  God  — and  how  shall  we 
ever  be  able  sufficiently  to  thank  Him?  The  law  of 
gratitude  is  observed  by  the  very  beasts,  who  some- 
times change  their  cruel  anger  into  gentle  homage  to 
their  benefactors;  and  how  much  more,  of  course,  has 
this  law  not  to  be  observed  by  man,  gifted  as  he  is  with 
reason  and  so  nobly  endowed  by  the  divine  liberality  ! 
Now,  the  way  most  fully  to  thank  our  good  God  — our 
supreme  Benefactor  — is  taught  us  by  the  Royal 
Psalmist,  holy  David,  who,  led  by  divine  inspirations  to 
speak  with  mysterious  references  to  this  divine  sacri- 
fice, indicates  that  nothing  can  sufficiently  render  the 
thanks  which  are  due  to  God,  excepting  holy  Mass. 
‘ Quid  retribuam  Domino  pro  omnibus  quae  retribuit 
mihi  ? ' — ‘ What  return  shall  I offer  to  the  Lord  for 
all  the  benefits  which  He  hath  bestowed  upon  me?’ 
And  answering  himself  he  says,  ‘ Calicem  salutaris 
accipiam,'  or,  according  to  another  version,  ‘ Calicem 
levabo 1 — ‘I  will  uplift  on  high  the  chalice  of  the  Lord,’ 
that  is,  I will  offer  a sacrifice  most  grateful  to  Him, 
and  with  this  alone  I shall  satisfy  the  debt  of  so  many 
and  such  signal  benefits.  Add  to  this  that  the  sacrifice 
was  instituted  by  our  Redeemer  principally  in  recog- 
nition of  the  divine  beneficence,  and  as  thanks  to  Him ; 
and  therefore  it  bears  as  its  most  special  and  worthy 
name  the  Eucharist,  which  signifies  an  offering  of 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  167 

thanks.  He  Himself  also  gave  us  the  example  when, 
in  the  Last  Supper,  before  the  act  of  consecration  in  that 
first  Mass,  He  raised  His  eyes  to  heaven,  and  gave 
thanks  to  His  heavenly  Father:  4 Elevatis  oculis  in 
caelum^  tibi  gratias  agens  fregit .’  O divine  thanks- 
giving, disclosing  why  this  tremendous  sacrifice  was 
instituted  and  calling  upon  us  to  conform  ourselves  to 
the  example  of  our  Head,  so  that  in  every  Mass  at 
which  we  assist  we  may  know  how  to  avail  ourselves 
of  so  great  a treasure,  and  offer  it  in  thanksgiving  to  our 
supreme  Benefactor!  And  all  the  more,  since  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  and  the  angels,  and  the  saints  rejoice 
to  witness  this,  our  tribute  of  gratitude  to  so  great  a 
King  — or,  better,  King  of  kings.” 

44  Would  to  God,”  exclaims  a spiritual  writer,44  that 
we  appreciated  aright  the  immense  treasure  we  possess 
in  holy  Mass!  How  happy  we  should  then  be!  How 
attentively  we  should  hear  Mass!  In  holy  Mass  we 
have  the  noblest  burnt-offering,  the  sublimest  sacrifice 
of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  It  is  the  believer’s  greatest 
treasure,  and  the  devout  Christian’s  dearest  joy.” 

44  Consider,  O Christian,”  writes  Father  Segneri,  S.  J., 
44  how  indebted  we  are  to  Our  Saviour  for  the  institu- 
tion of  holy  Mass,  for  without  it  we  can  never  thank 
God  rightly  for  His  benefits.  It  was  the  superabun- 
dance of  His  love  that  induced  Him  not  only  to  load  us 
with  so  many  benefits,  but  to  place  within  our  reach 
the  means  of  giving  Him  abundant  thanks  for  these 
same  benefits.  Would  that  we  appreciated  our  privi- 
leges and  turned  them  to  good  account!  When  we 
hear  Mass,  Christ,  Who  is  immolated  to  His  Father 
for  our  sake,  becomes  our  own,  and  with  Him  we  be- 
come possessed  of  all  His  infinite  merits  and  are  able 
to  offer  them  to  God  the  Father,  thus  to  lighten  the 
heavy  load  of  our  indebtedness  that  well-nigh  crushes 
us  to  earth.” 

The  third  end  for  which  the  Mass  is  offered  to  God 
is  to  obtain  the  remission  of  our  sins. 

The  Council  of  Trent  says  in  reference  to  this  sub- 
ject: 44  The  Holy  Synod  teaches  that  this  sacrifice  is 


1 68  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


truly  propitiatory,  and  if  one  draws  nigh  unto  God,  con- 
trite and  penitent,  He  will  be  appeased  by  the  offering 
thereof,  and,  granting  the  grace  and  gift  of  penitence, 
will  forgive  even  heinous  crimes  and  sins.”  (Sess. 
xxii,  ch.  2.) 

44  If  anyone  saith  that  the  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  is 
not  a propitiatory  sacrifice,  let  him  be  anathema.” 
(Sess.  xxii,  ch.  3.) 

As  we  read  in  44  The  Mystic  Treasures  of  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  ”: 

44  The  Mass  does  not,  in  the  case  of  mortal  sin,  super- 
sede the  necessity  of  going  to  confession,  but,  owing  to 
the  efficacious  grace  it  gives,  it  may  become  the  means 
of  procuring  perfect  contrition,  which,  when  united  with 
the  firm  resolution  of  going  to  confession,  suffices  to 
remit  the  guilt  even  of  mortal  sin. 

44  The  action  of  the  priest  at  Mass  shows  that  it  is  a 
veritable  sacrifice  of  atonement.  He  begins  by  saying 
the  Confiteor  or  general  confession,  which  is  then  re- 
cited by  the  server  in  the  name  of  all  the  congregation, 
after  which  the  priest  pronounces  the  absolution: 
4 May  the  almighty  God  have  mercy  upon  you,  forgive 
you  your  sins,  and  bring  you  to  life  everlasting.’  Then, 
making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  he  says:  4 May  the 
almighty  and  merciful  Lord  grant  us  pardon,  absolu- 
tion, and  remission  of  our  sins.’  Again  and  again  he 
invokes  the  divine  mercy  in  the  Kyrie  Eleison , and  in 
other  prayers  throughout  the  Mass,  notably  the  Agnus 
Dei , in  which  he  calls  aloud  for  mercy,  saying,  ‘ Lamb 
of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world,  have 
mercy  on  us.’ 

44  ‘ The  special  effect  of  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the 
Mass,’  says  St.  Thomas  Aquinas,  4 is  that  it  operates 
our  reconciliation  with  God,’  and  he  explains  this  doc- 
trine by  the  following  illustration:  4 Just  as  a man  will 
forgive  the  wrong  done  him  by  his  fellow-men  in  con- 
sideration of  a valuable  gift  which  is  presented  to  him, 
so  the  anger  of  God  may  be  appeased  by  the  acceptable 
service  thou  dost  render  Him  when  thou  hearest  Mass, 
and  by  the  priceless  gift  which  thou  dost  offer  Him  in 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  169 

the  oblation  of  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.* 
To  the  same  effect  Albertus  Magnus  writes:  ‘ By  this 
inestimable  gift  (of  the  Mass)  the  divine  indignation 
and  anger  are  fully  appeased.’  St.  Bonaventure  places 
the  following  words  on  the  lips  of  the  priest  at  the 
moment  of  tide  elevation  of  the  sacred  host: 

“ * We,  miserable  sinners,  have  transgressed  and 
grievously  offended  Thee,  O heavenly  Father;  but  look 
upon  the  face  of  Thy  Christ,  Whom  we  here  present  to 
Thee,  hoping  to  change  Thy  anger  into  mercy.  Turn 
not  away  Thy  face  from  Thy  Son,  of  Whom  Thou  hast 
said,  “ This  is  My  beloved  Son,  in  Whom  I am  well 
pleased.”  For  His  sake  turn  us  to  Thee,  and  be  not 
angry  with  us  any  more.’ 

“ In  all  this  we  find  a strong  motive  for  unbounded 
confidence  in  the  power  of  the  Mass  to  save  sinners 
and  procure  our  own  sanctification  and  salvation. 

“ The  Mass  not  merely  secures  the  forgiveness  of 
mortal  sin,  but  also  blots  out  venial  sin.  This  is  ex- 
pressly stated  by  the  Council  of  Trent:  ‘ Christ  instituted 
the  Mass  at  the  Last  Supper  that  its  salutary  power 
might  be  applied  to  the  remission  of  those  sins  which 
we  daily  commit.’  (Sess.  xxii,  ch.  2.) 

“ Speaking  of  this  effect  of  the  Mass,  Suarez  says: 
‘ Christ  instituted  this  divine  oblation,  and  attached  to 
it  the  virtue  of  His  death,  which  is  applied  to  us  for  the 
remission  of  our  daily  sins.’ 

“ It  is  related  in  the  1 Life  of  St.  Gertrude  ’ that  at 
the  elevation  of  the  sacred  Host  she  used  to  say:  ‘ Holy 
Lord  God!  I offer  to  Thee  the  sacred  Host  for  the  re- 
mission of  my  sins,’  and  that  Our  Lord  made  known 
to  her  that  in  answer  to  her  prayers  her  soul  was 
cleansed  from  all  its  stains  and  she  was  rendered 
worthy  to  be  admitted  to  the  embrace  of  her  beloved 
Spouse.” 

The  fourth  end  for  which  we  offer  to  God  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  is  to  obtain  for  ourselves,  as  well 
as  for  others , graces  and  favors , both  temporal  and 
spiritual , through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord . 

“ The  holy  Mass,”  says  Gihr,  “ has  always  and 


170  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

everywhere  been  regarded  as  the  most  efficacious 
means  to  obtain  assistance  in  all  the  necessities  and 
concerns  of  life.  . . . The  Mass  draws  down  upon  the 
soul  the  light  and  the  dew  of  heaven,  so  that  all  the 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  therein  attain  their  most  beau- 
tiful bloom  and  ripeness.  The  Mass  obtains  grace, 
strength,  and  courage  to  perform  good  works,  to  over- 
come the  flesh  and  its  concupiscence,  to  despise  the 
world  with  its  allurements  and  threats,  to  resist  the 
attacks  of  Satan,  to  endure  not  only  patiently,  but  with 
joy  and  thanksgiving  to  God,  the  hardships  and  troubles, 
the  sufferings  and  evils,  of  this  life,  to  fight  the  good 
fight,  to  finish  our  course,  and  to  persevere  in  the  way 
of  salvation  unto  the  end,  and  thus  to  bear  off  the  crown 
of  life  and  of  eternal  glory.  ...  Thus  the  holy  sacri- 
fice of  the  Mass  is  the  most  profound  and  significant 
expression  of  all  our  petitions  and  intercessions  in 
spiritual  and  temporal  concerns.” 

Father  Anthony  Molina,  in  his  work  on  the  priest- 
hood, says:  “ There  is  nothing  so  profitable  to  man- 
kind, so  efficacious  for  the  relief  of  the  suffering  souls, 
nothing  so  helpful  for  the  attaining  of  spiritual  riches  as 
the  most  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass.” 

St.  Leonard  of  Port  Maurice  in  his  treatise  on  the 
Mass  urges  the  faithful  to  hear  Mass  frequently  and  to 
have  many  Masses  offered  not  only  for  their  own  good 
in  life  and  in  death,  but  also  and  especially  for  the  relief 
of  the  holy  souls  in  purgatory.  He  says:  “ It  is  the  in- 
variable opinion  of  theologians  that  there  is  no  more 
efficacious  means  than  Mass  for  obtaining  a good  and 
holy  death.  Christ  our  Lord  is  said  to  have  revealed 
to  St.  Mechtilde  (Lib.  iii,  Grat.  Spir.,  c.  27)  that  he  who 
in  life  is  in  the  habit  of  devoutly  hearing  holy  Mass 
shall  in  death  be  consoled  by  the  presence  of  the  angels 
and  saints,  his  advocates,  who  shall  bravely  defend  him 
from  all  the  snares  of  infernal  spirits.  Oh,  how  beau- 
tiful the  death  which  is  destined  to  succeed  your  life  if 
you  shall  have  striven  to  hear  with  devotion  as  many 
Masses  as  you  could!  As  to  the  efficacy  of  the  holy 
sacrifice  of  the  Mass  for  accelerating  the  remission  of 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  171 

the  pains  of  purgatory,  I do  not  doubt  that  holy  Mass 
not  only  shortens  the  pains  of  the  poor  souls,  but  also 
extends  great  immediate  relief  to  them.  We  may  well 
believe,  at  least,  that  at  every  Mass  many  issue  forth 
from  purgatory  and  fly  to  holy  paradise. 

“ The  example  and  authority  of  that  great  servant  of 
God,  John  of  Avila,  the  oracle  of  Spain,  should  suffice. 
Being  asked  on  his  deathbed  what  he  had  most  at  heart, 
and  what  kindness  he  most  longed  for  after  death,  he 
answered:  ‘ Masses!  Masses!  ’ ” 

We  have  the  authority  of  the  Council  of  Trent  for  the 
assertion  that  the  Holy  Sacrifice  is  the  great  means  to 
assist  the  suffering  souls.  “ This  Ecumenical  Synod,” 
we  read,  “ teaches  that  the  souls  detained  in  purgatory 
are  helped  by  the  suffrages  of  the  faithful,  but  prin- 
cipally by  the  acceptable  Sacrifice  of  the  Altar.” 

It  behooves  us  all  to  reflect  well  upon  the  words  of 
the  Apostle  in  his  letter  to  the  Hebrews:  “ We  have 
not  here  a lasting  city,  but  we  seek  one  that  is  to  come  ” 
(Heb.  xiii.  14);  and  to  heed  the  admonition  of  Our 
Saviour:  “ Lay  up  to  yourselves  treasures  in  heaven  ” 
(Matt.  vi.  20) ; “ Make  to  yourselves  bags  which  grow 
not  old  — a treasure  in  heaven  which  faileth  not,  where 
no  thief  approacheth,  nor  moth  corrupteth  ” (Luke 
xii.  22). 

Let  us  gather  flowers  that  do  not  wither  but  will  bloom 
forever;  fruits  that  do  not  decay  but  will  retain  their 
savor  and  their  sweetness  throughout  eternity;  jewels 
that  no  thief  can  steal  from  us,  nor  death  deprive  us  of, 
but  which  shall  be  our  ornament  and  happiness  in  our 
eternal  Father’s  house  — the  flowers,  the  fruits,  the 
jewels  of  the  Mass. 

“ Oh,  unbounded  riches  of  holy  Mass!  ” exclaims 
St.  Leonard.  “ Grasp  well  this  truth,  one  and  all:  It 
is  possible  for  you  to  gain  more  favor  with  God  by 
attending  or  celebrating  one  single  Mass,  considered  in 
itself,  and  in  its  intrinsic  worth,  than  by  opening  the 
treasure  of  your  wealth,  and  distributing  the  whole  to 
the  poor,  or  by  going  on  a pilgrimage  over  the  whole 
world,  and  visiting  with  the  utmost  devotion  the  most 


172  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

famous  sanctuaries,  such  as  Rome,  Compostela,  Lofreto, 
and  Jerusalem;  and  this,  indeed,  follows  most  reason- 
ably from  the  proposition  laid  down  by  the  Angelic 
Doctor,  St.  Thomas,  when  he  says  that  in  Mass  are 
contained  all  the  fruits,  all  the  graces  — yea,  all  those 
immense  treasures  which  the  Son  of  God  poured  out 
sc  abundantly  upon  the  Church,  His  Spouse,  in  the 
bloody  sacrifice  of  the  cross:  In  qualibet  Missa  in - 
venitur  omnis  fructus  et  utilitas  quam  Christus  in  die 
Perasceves  operatus  est  in  cruce.  (De  Consec.,  dist.  2.) 

“ Why  do  you  not  run  to  the  churches,  there  to  hear 
with  holy  hearts  all  the  Masses  in  your  power  ? Why 
not  imitate  the  holy  angels,  who,  according  to  the  say- 
ing of  St.  Chrysostom,  when  holy  Mass  is  being  cele- 
brated, descend  in  squadrons  from  the  empyrean,  and 
stand  before  our  altars,  covered  with  the  wings  of  rever- 
ential awe,  waiting  the  whole  of  that  blessed  time,  in 
order  that  they  may  intercede  for  us  the  more  effec- 
tively, well  knowing  this  to  be  the  time  most  opportune, 
the  conjuncture,  above  every  other,  propitious  for  ob- 
taining favors  from  Heaven.  Sink  down,  then,  in  con- 
fusion, for  having  in  time  past  so  little  appreciated  holy 
Mass,  for  perhaps  having  even  many  times  profaned 
an  act  so  dread  and  holy ; much  more  so,  if  you  are  of 
the  number  of  those  who  have  recklessly  dared  to  utter: 
‘ A Mass  more  or  less  is  of  little  importance.’  Yes;  let 
us  heed  it  as  the  voice  of  Heaven  calling  us  to  Mass, 
when  the  solemn  sound  of  church  bells  reverberating 
through  the  fresh  and  fragrant  morning  air  falls  upon 
our  ear.” 

“ All  Catholics,”  writes  the  author  of  “ Jewels  of  the 
Mass,”  “ unfortunately,  do  not  regard  this  Great  Act , 
as  we  call  it,  with  the  same  awe  or  attention  — and  yet 
it  should  be  approached  much  as  some  of  the  old  writers 
have  put  it.  ‘ If  the  Holy  Sacrifice,’  they  tell  us, ‘ were 
to  be  celebrated  but  once  since  the  death  of  Our 
Saviour,  it  would  be  an  event  of  such  tremendous 
significance  as  to  excite  the  awe  and  reverence  of  the 
whole  world.’ 

“ And,  indeed,  we  might  conceive  for  ourselves  what 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  173 

would  be  our  feelings  if  it  were  announced  for  the  first 
time  that  Our  Saviour  would  descend  from  heaven  upon 
an  altar,  and  that  there  and  then  the  sacrifice  of  Cal- 
vary would  be  renewed.  Beside  such  an  event  all  his- 
torical events  would  become  tame  and  insignificant.  It 
would  be  next  in  interest  only  to  the  original  coming  of 
Our  Lord.  Yet  most  Catholics,  from  habit  and  famil- 
iarity, ‘ go  to  Mass,’  as  it  is  called,  in  a languid,  irre- 
sponsible fashion,  for  the  most  part  once  in  the  week. 
How  often  do  we  see  the  bottom  of  the  church  crowded 
with  men,  standing  for  the  necessary  twenty  minutes, 
and  then  hurrying  away  with  impatience,  almost  before 
it  is  concluded!  How  few  make  it  a practice  of  attend- 
ing on  week-days,  on  the  ground  of  there  being  * no 
obligation  ’ — a curious  delusion!  It  surely  ought  to  be 
a wonderful  feeling  for  the  Catholic  to  think,  during  the 
day,  that  he  has  actually  witnessed  this  Great  Act,  the 
change  of  bread  and  wine  into  the  Lord’s  body,  and 
His  descent  upon  the  altar  of  men!  The  day  that  fol- 
lows may  be  considered  hallowed,  or  even,  in  a lower 
sense,  a lucky  one.  Indeed,  those  who  have  gained 
the  habit  of  hearing  Mass  ‘ every  day  * will  own  that 
when  they  have  been  hindered  by  some  casualty  there 
has  been  a sense  of  incompleteness  and  discomfort,  as 
though  the  whole  day  had  been  thrown  Out  of  gear. 
One  of  the  most  picturesque,  but,  alas!  heterodox  of 
our  writers  — Thomas  Carlyle  — has  given  a striking 
account  of  the  impression  left  on  him  by  the  Mass 
(which  he  attended  in  the  old  Dom  at  Bruges,  and 
again  at  Ghent).  The  impression  leads  him  later  on  to 
the  striking  admission  — for  him,  Thomas  of  Chelsea 
— that  the  Mass  was  the  only  genuine  thing  of  our 
time .” 

To  one  more  point  we  wish  to  call  attention;  viz. 
to  the  importance  of  making  the  Morning  Offering  of 
the  Apostleship  of  Prayer: 

“ O Jesus,  through  the  immaculate  heart  of  Mary,  I 
offer  Thee  my  prayers,  works,  and  sufferings  of  this 
day  for  all  the  intentions  of  Thy  sacred  Heart,  in  union 
with  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  throughout  the 


174  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

world , in  reparation  for  my  sins,  for  the  intentions  of 
all  our  associates,  and  in  particular  for  the  intention 
recommended  this  month  by  the  Holy  Father.” 

44  This  devotion  of  the  Morning  Offering,”  says 
Father  Rickaby,  S.  J.,  “ rests  on  the  main  and  essential 
principles  of  Christianity;  namely,  that  in  Christ  we 
have  access  to  the  Father  (Eph.  ii.  18) ; that  there  is 
no  salvation  in  any  other,  no  other  name  under  heaven 
given  to  man,  whereby  we  are  to  be  saved  (Acts  iv.  12) ; 
that  this  salvation  was  wrought  out  by  the  death  of 
Christ  on  the  cross,  Who  made  peace  through  the  blood 
of  His  cross,  blotted  out  the  handwriting  that  was 
against  us,  and  took  it  away,  nailing  it  to  the  cross  (Col. 
i.  20;  ii.  14);  that  this  redeeming  sacrifice  and  death 
of  Our  Saviour  is  continually  shown  forth  and  re-enacted 
in  His  own  very  body  and  blood,  made  present  at  the 
Consecration  in  holy  Mass  (1  Cor.  xi.  24;  Luke  xxii. 
19) ; that  the  most  efficacious  prayer  is  that  which  goes 
up  in  closest  union  with  Christ  crucified,  pleading  in 
sacrifice  for  us.  Christ  crucified  thus  pleads  in  every 
Mass.  In  every  Mass,  as  the  Church  says,  4 the 
memory  of  His  passion  is  celebrated  anew.’  I can  not 
spend  my  day  in  hearing  Mass,  traveling  from  altar  to 
altar.  It  is  not  God’s  purpose  that  I should  do  that. 
But  the  Morning  Offering  of  the  Apostleship  of  Prayer, 
as  sanctioned  by  the  Holy  See,  puts  me  in  relation  with 
every  Mass  that  is  said  that  day,  and  lays  upon  every 
Christian  altar  my  work  and  my  play,  my  words  and 
thoughts,  my  pains  and  sorrows,  my  delights  and  joys, 
and  every  conscious  action  of  my  will  — always  except- 
ing that  which  is  sinful,  and  so  unacceptable,  incapable 
of  entering  into  holy  union  with  the  oblation  of  the  body 
and  blood  of  my  Saviour.  When  I lie  down  to  rest  at 
night,  I may  ask  myself:  4 Of  all  that  I have  done  to- 
day, of  all  my  goings  and  comings,  what  shall  endure  to 
my  eternal  good  ? What  have  I laid  up  in  the  form  of 
treasure  for  heaven  ? ’ And,  provided  I have  spent  the 
day  in  the  state  of  grace,  I may  answer:  4 All  and  every 
one  of  my  deliberate  acts  of  will  that  were  right  in  them- 
selves, and,  very  signally  and  specially,  all  that  has 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  175 

received  the  consecration  of  my  morning  offering.’  Of 
my  strivings  after  the  good  things  of  this  life,  some  will 
succeed,  others  will  fail:  but  alike  in  success  and  fail- 
ure, practising  the  Apostleship  of  Prayer,  I may  take 
to  myself  the  Apostle’s  consoling  words:  1 Be  ye  stead- 
fast and  immovable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of 
the  Lord,  knowing  that  your  labor  is  not  vain  in  the 
Lord.’  (1  Cor.  xv.  58.)  ” — “ Ye  Are  Christ’s,”  Chapter 
82. 

The  following  indulgenced  Offerings  from  “ The  Rac- 
colta  ” are  also  very  commendable. 

X.  tfj t beginning  of  tfje  JBap 

OL0RD  God  almighty,  behold  me  prostrate  before 
Thee  in  order  to  appease  Thee,  and  to  honor  Thy 
divine  majesty,  in  the  name  of  all  creatures.  But  how 
can  I do  this  who  am  myself  but  a poor  sinner?  Nay, 
but  I both  can  and  will,  knowing  that  Thou  dost  make 
it  Thy  boast  to  be  called  Father  of  mercies,  and  for  love 
of  us  hast  given  Thine  only-begotten  Son,  Who  sacri- 
ficed Himself  upon  the  cross,  and  for  our  sake  doth 
continually  renew  that  sacrifice  of  Himself  upon  our 
altars.  And  therefore  do  I — sinner,  but  penitent; 
poor,  but  rich  in  Jesus  Christ  — present  myself  before 
Thee,  and  with  the  love  of  angels  and  of  all  Thy  saints, 
and  with  the  tender  affection  of  the  immaculate  heart  of 
Mary,  I offer  to  Thee  in  the  name  of  all  creatures  the 
Masses  which  are  now  being  celebrated,  together  with 
all  those  which  have  been  celebrated,  and  which  shall 
be  celebrated  to  the  end  of  the  world.  Moreover,  I 
intend  to  renew  the  offering  of  them  every  moment  of 
this  day  and  of  all  my  life,  that  I may  thereby  render 
to  Thy  infinite  majesty  an  honor  and  a glory  worthy  of 
Thee,  thus  to  appease  Thy  indignation,  to  satisfy  Thy 
justice  for  our  many  sins,  to  render  Thee  thanks  in  pro- 
portion to  Thy  benefits,  and  to  implore  Thy  mercies  for 
myself  and  for  all  sinners,  for  all  the  faithful,  living 
and  dead,  for  Thy  whole  Church,  and  principally  for  its 
visible  Head,  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  and  lastly,  for  all 


176  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

poor  schismatics,  heretics,  and  infidels,  that  they  also 
may  be  converted  and  save  their  souls.  (Indulgence 
of  three  years.  — Pius  IX,  April  n,  i860.) 

2.  HBurtng,  or  (in  tij t cas t of  priests)  before  fKass 

aTERNAL  Father,  I offer  to  Thee  the  sacrifice  which 
Thy  beloved  Son  Jesus  made  of  Himself  upon 
the  cross,  and  which  He  now  renews  upon  this  altar; 
I offer  it  to  Thee  in  the  name  of  all  creatures,  together 
with  the  Masses  which  have  been  celebrated,  and 
which  shall  be  celebrated,  in  the  whole  world,  in  order 
to  adore  Thee,  and  to  give  Thee  the  honor  which  Thou 
dost  deserve  to  render  to  Thee  due  thanks  for  Thy  in- 
numerable benefits,  to  appease  Thy  anger,  which  our 
many  sins  have  provoked,  and  to  give  Thee  due  satis- 
faction for  them;  to  entreat  Thee  also  for  myself,  for  the 
Church,  for  the  whole  world,  and  for  the  blessed  souls 
in  purgatory.  Amen.1 

The  following  pen-picture  by  an  anonymous  writer 
will  help  us  to  realize  more  vividly  the  truth  of  the 
prophecy  contained  in  the  first  chapter  of  Malachias  — 
44  From  the  rising  of  the  sun,  even  to  the  going  down, 
My  name  is  great  among  the  Gentiles;  and  in  every 
place  there  is  sacrifice , and  there  is  offered  to  My  name 
a clean  oblation;  for  My  name  is  great  among  the  Gen- 
tiles, saith  the  Lord  of  hosts  ” : 

44  It  is  not  an  exaggeration  to  say  that  the  Mass  is 
offered  somewhere  in  the  world  at  every  moment  of  the 
twenty-four  hours  of  the  day.  The  offering  of  the 
Mass  travels  with  the  sun,  and  seems  like  one  continu- 
ous and  uninterrupted  act  of  worship,  which  the  devout 
Catholic  at  any  moment  by  day  or  by  night  can  join  in 
spirit.  When  it  is  midnight  in  New  York,  Masses  are 
beginning  in  the  churches  of  Italy. 

44  There  ancient  altars,  at  which  saints  have  knelt, 
are  lit  up  with  tapers,  and  the  Vicar  of  Christ  and  thou- 
sands of  priests  are  lifting  holy  hands  up  to  heaven  in 
the  sacrifice  of  adoration,  thanksgiving , reparation,  and 
1 Indulgence  of  three  years.  — Pius  IX,  April  11,  i860. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  177 

supplication.  A little  later  and  the  bells  of  a thousand 
towers  in  France  begin  to  fill  the  air  with  holy  sounds, 
and  in  every  city,  town,  and  hamlet  kneeling  crowds 
adore  the  chastening  hand  of  God  and  pray  for  sinners 
who  despise  His  ordinances.  Chivalric  and  religious 
Spain  catches  the  echoes,  and,  when  it  is  one  o’clock 
in  New  York,  offers  the  great  sacrifice  in  countless 
splendid  churches.  And  then  Catholic  Ireland,  the 
Island  of  Saints,  which  during  centuries  has  suffered 
for  the  Faith,  rallies  anew  around  the  altars  it  would 
never  forsake,  despite  the  most  cruel  persecutions. 

“ At  two  o’clock  and  after,  the  priests  of  the  islands 
of  the  Atlantic  — perhaps  the  Cape  Verde  — white- 
robed  and  stoled  and  wearing  the  great  cross  on  their 
shoulders,  bend  before  the  tabernacle.  An  hour  later 
a courageous  missionary  lifts  up  the  chalice  of  salva- 
tion on  the  ice-bound  coast  of  Greenland. 

“ At  half-past  four  the  sacred  lamps  twinkle  through 
the  fogs  of  Newfoundland,  and  at  five  Nova  Scotia’s 
industrious  population  begins  the  day  by  attending 
Mass.  And  now  all  the  Canadian  churches  and  chapels 
grow  radiant  as  the  faithful  people  — the  habitant  of 
the  country,  the  devout  citizen,  the  consecrated  nun, 
and  the  innocent  — hasten  to  unite  their  prayers  around 
the  sanctuary  where  the  priest  is  awaiting  them.  At 
six  how  many  souls  are  flocking  to  the  churches  of  New 
York,  eager  to  begin  the  day  of  labor  with  the  holiest 
act  of  religion!  Many  young  people,  too,  gather  around 
the  altar  at  a later  hour,  just  as  the  fresh  flowers  open 
with  the  morning,  and  offer  their  dewy  fragrance  to 
heaven.  An  hour  later,  the  bells  of  Missouri  and 
Louisiana  are  ringing,  and  at  eight  Mexico,  true  to  her 
faith,  bends  before  her  glittering  altars.  At  nine  the 
devout  tribes  of  Oregon  follow  their  beloved  black- 
gown  to  their  poor  but  gayly-decorated  chapels,  and 
California  awhile  loosens  its  grasp  on  its  gold  to  think 
of  the  treasure  that  rust  doth  not  corrupt.  And  when 
the  Angelus-bell  is  ringing  at  noon  in  New  York,  the 
unbloody  sacrifice  is  being  offered  in  the  islands  of  the 
Pacific,  where  there  are  generous  souls  laboring  for  our 


178  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

dear  Lord;  and  so  the  bells  are  ringing  on,  on  over 
the  waters,  and  one  taper  after  another  catches  the 
light  of  faith,  making  glad  all  the  isles  of  the  sea.  At 
two  o’clock  the  zealous  missionaries  of  Australia  are 
hastening  to  the  altar,  and  whispering  in  their  eagerness 
for  the  coming  of  Our  Lord,  Introibo  ad  altare  Dei. 
And  all  the  spicy  islands  of  the  East  catch  the  sweet 
sounds  one  after  another,  till  at  four  in  the  afternoon 
China  proves  there  are  many  souls  who  are  worthy  of 
the  name  of  celestial  by  their  rapt  devotion  at  the  early 
rite.  Then  in  Tibet  there  is  many  a modest  chapel 
where  the  missionary  distributes  the  Bread  of  Life  to 
a crowd  of  hungry  souls. 

“ At  six  the  altars  of  Hindustan,  where  St.  Francis 
Xavier  ministered,  are  arrayed  with  their  flowers  and 
lamps  and  the  sacred  vessels,  and  unwearied  priests  are 
hastening  to  fortify  their  souls  before  Him  Who  is  their 
life  and  their  strength.  At  nine  in  Siberia,  where  many 
a poor  Catholic  exile  from  Poland  has  no  other  solace 
from  his  woes  but  the  foot  of  the  altar  and  the  bread 
of  heaven.  During  the  hours  when  New  York  is  gay 
with  parties  and  balls  and  theatrical  amusements  the 
holiest  of  rites  is  going  on  in  the  Indian  Ocean  and 
among  the  sable  tribes  of  Africa,  whose  souls  are  so 
dear  to  the  Saviour  Who  once  died  for  all.*  At  eleven  in 
Jerusalem,  the  Holy  City  over  which  Jesus  wept,  where 
He  wrought  so  many  miracles,  where  He  suffered  and 
offered  Himself  a sacrifice  for  the  whole  world. 

“ When  midnight  sounds  again  in  New  York  the  silver 
bells  are  tinkling  again  in  every  chancel  in  Rome. 
And  so  it  goes  on;  the  divine  host  is  constantly  rising 
like  the  sun  in  its  course  around  the  earth.  Thus  are 
fulfilled  the  words  of  the  prophet  Malachias:  ‘ From 
the  rising  of  the  sun  even  to  the  going  down  thereof,  My 
name  is  great  among  the  Gentiles;  and  in  every  place 
there  is  sacrifice,  and  there  is  offered  to  My  name  a 
clean  oblation.’  All  day  long  — at  any  hour  — we  can 
assist  at  Mass  spiritually;  let  us  frequently  unite  our- 
selves to  the  Masses  going  on  in  some  part  of  the 
world,  thus  adding  new  brightness  to  God’s  glory,  aton- 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  179 

ing  for  the  neglect  of  others,  making  reparation  for  our 
offences,  in  thanksgiving  for  our  blessings,  and  thus 
effectually  promoting  our  sanctification.” 

“ Oh,  what  a gift  is  the  holy  Mass!  ” exclaims  Father 
Baker,  C.S.P.,  in  his  stirring  sermon  on  “ The  Mass  the 
Highest  Worship.”  1 “ How  full  an  utterance  has  hu- 

manity found  therein  for  all  its  woes,  its  aspirations,  its 
hopes,  its  affections!  How  completely  is  the  distance 
bridged  over  that  separated  the  creature  and  the  Crea- 
tor! The  Mass  supplies  the  want  of  the  human  soul 
for  an  adequate  mode  of  approaching  God,  As  a crea- 
ture before  its  Creator,  you  are  oppressed  with  your 
own  inability  to  worship  Him  worthily.  Do  you  want 
a better  worship  than  that  which  His  eternal  Son  offers  ? 
In  the  Mass  the  Son  of  God  in  His  human  nature  wor- 
ships the  Father  for  us.  He  prays  for  us ; asks  pardon 
for  us;  gives  thanks  for  us;  adores  for  us.  As  He  is 
perfect  man,  He  expresses  every  human  feeling ; as  He 
is  perfect  God,  His  utterances  have  a complete  perfec- 
tion, an  infinite  acceptableness.  Thus,  when  we  offer 
Mass,  we  worship  the  Father  with  Christ’s  worship. 
It  seems  to  me  that  the  Catholic  can  have  a certain  kind 
of  pride  in  this.  He  may  say,  ‘ I know  I am  weak  and 
as  nothing  before  God,  yet  I possess  a treasure  that  is 
worthy  to  offer  to  Him.  I have  a prayer  to  present  to 
Him  all  perfect  and  all  powerful,  the  prayer  of  His 
only-begotten  Son,  in  Whom  He  is  well  pleased/ 

“ Come,  then,”  continues  the  eloquent  Paulist, 
“ come,  children,  come  to  Mass,  and  bring  your  merry 
hearts  with  you.  Come,  you  that  are  young  and  happy, 
and  rejoice  before  the  Lord.  Come,  you  that  are  old 
and  weary,  and  tell  your  loneliness  to  God.  Come, 
you  that  are  sorely  tempted,  and  ask  the  help  of  Heaven. 
Come,  you  that  have  sinned,  and  weep  between  the 
porch  and  the  altar.  Come,  you  that  are  bereaved, 
and  pour  out  here  your  tears.  Come,  you  that  are  sick, 
or  anxious,  or  unhappy,  and  complain  to  God.  Come, 
you  that  are  prosperous  and  successful,  and  give  thanks. 

1 Vide  Sermons  of  the  Rev.  Francis  A.  Baker,  with  a 
Memoir  of  His  Life,  by  Rev.  A.  F.  Hewit. 


180  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


Christ  will  sympathize  with  you.  He  will  rejoice  with 
you,  and  He  will  mourn  with  you.  He  will  gather  up 
your  prayers.  He  will  join  to  them  His  own  almighty 
supplications,  and  that  concert  of  prayer  shall  enter 
heaven,  louder  than  the  music  of  angelic  choirs,  sweeter 
than  the  voice  of  those  who  sing  the  song  of  Moses  and 
the  Lamb,  more  piercing  than  the  cry  of  the  living 
creatures  who  rest  not  day  or  night,  and  more  powerful 
and  prevailing  than  the  intercession  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  and  all  the  saints  of  paradise  together.  The 
Mass  a formalism!  The  Mass  an  unmeaning  service! 
Why,  it  is  the  most  beautiful,  the  most  spiritual,  the 
most  sublime,  the  most  satisfying  worship  which  the 
heart  of  man  can  even  conceive. 

“ And  here,  too,  in  this  idea  of  the  Mass,  we  have  the 
answer  to  another  perplexity  of  Protestants.  They  can 
not  understand  why  we  make  such  a point  of  attending 
Mass.  They  see  us  go  to  Mass  in  all  weathers.  They 
see  us  so  particular  not  to  be  late  at  Mass,  and  they  ask 
what  it  all  means!  Is  it  not  superstition ? Do  we  not, 
like  the  Pharisees,  give  an  undue  value  to  outward 
observances  ? May  we  not  worship  God  at  home  just 
as  well  ? Ah,  if  it  were  really  only  an  outward  observ- 
ance! But  there  is  just  the  difference.  There  stands 
one  among  us  Whom  you  know  not.  We  believe  that 
the  Saviour  is  with  us,  and  you  do  not.  We  believe 
this  with  a certain,  simple  faith.  Come  to  our  churches 
and  look  at  our  people  — the  poorest  and  most  ignorant 
— and  see  if  we  do  not.  It  is  written  on  their  faces. 
They  may  not  know  how  to  express  themselves,  but  this 
is  in  their  hearts.  You  think  we  come  to  Mass  because 
the  Church  is  so  strict  in  requiring  us  to  do  so ; but  the 
true  state  of  the  case  is  that  the  law  of  the  Church  is  so 
strict  because  Christ  is  present  in  the  Mass.  You 
think  it  is  the  pomp  and  glitter  of  our  altars  that  draws 
the  crowds.  Little  you  know  of  human  nature  if  you 
think  it  can  long  be  held  by  such  things  alone.  No; 
we  adorn  our  altars  because  we  believe  Christ  is  present. 
This  is  our  faith.  It  is  no  new  thing  with  us.  It  is  as 
old  as  Christianity.  It  was  the  comfort  of  the  Chris- 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  181 


tians  in  the  Catacombs.  It  was  the  glory  of  St.  Basil 
and  St.  Ambrose  and  St.  Augustine.  It  was  the  mean- 
ing of  all  the  glory  and  magnificence  of  the  Middle 
Ages.  And  it  is  our  stay  and  support  in  this  century 
of  knowledge,  labor,  and  disquiet.  Yes;  strip  our 
altars ; leave  us  only  the  Corn  and  the  Vine,  and  a rock 
for  our  altar,  and  we  will  worship  with  posture  as  lowly 
and  hearts  as  loving  as  in  the  grandest  cathedral.  Let 
persecution  rise;  let  us  be  driven  from  our  churches; 
we  will  say  Mass  in  the  woods  and  caverns,  as  the  early 
Christians  did.  We  know  that  God  is  everywhere. 
We  know  that  Nature  is  His  temple,  wherein  pure 
hearts  can  find  Him  and  adore  Him ; but  we  know  that 
it  is  in  the  Holy  Mass  alone  that  He  offers  Himself  to 
His  Father  as  the  Lamb  that  was  slain.  How  can  we 
forego  that  sweet  and  solemn  action?  How  can  we 
deprive  ourselves  of  that  heavenly  consolation?  The 
sparrow  hath  found  her  an  house  and  the  turtle  a nest 
where  she  may  lay  her  young , even  Thy  altars , O Lord 
of  hosts , my  king  and  my  God!  Man’s  heart  has  found 
a home  and  resting-place  in  this  vale  of  tears.  To  us 
the  altar  is  the  vestibule  of  heaven,  and  the  Host  its 
open  door. 

“ It  is  our  delight  now  to  think  that,  as  the  sun  in  its 
course  brings  daylight  to  each  successive  spot  on  earth, 
it  ever  finds  some  priest  girding  himself  to  go  up  to  the 
holy  altar;  that  thus  the  earth  is  belted,  from  the  rising 
of  the  sun  unto  the  going  down  of  the  same,  with  a 
chain  of  Masses;  that  as  the  din  of  the  world  com- 
mences each  day,  the  groan  of  the  oppressed,  the  cry 
of  the  fearful  and  troubled,  the  boast  of  sin  and  pride, 
the  wail  of  sorrow  — the  voice  of  Christ  ascends  at  the 
same  time  to  heaven,  supplicating  for  pardon  and  peace. 

“ Such  be  our  thoughts  about  the  holy  Mass.  Come 
to  Mass,  and  come  to  pray.  When  the  Lord  drew  near 
to  Elias  on  the  mount,  the  prophet  wrapped  his  face  in 
his  mantle;  so,  when  we  come  to  Mass,  let  us  wrap 
our  souls  in  a holy  recollection  of  spirit.  Remember 
what  is  going  on.  Now  pray;  now  praise;  now  ask 
forgiveness;  now  rest  before  God  in  quiet  love.  So 


182  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


will  the  Mass  be  a marvelous  comfort  and  refreshment 
to  you.  You  know  the  smell  of  the  incense  Ungers 
about  the  sacred  vestments  worn  at  the  altar  long  after 
the  service  is  over ; so  your  souls  shaU  carry  away  with 
them  as  you  leave  the  church  a celestial  fragrance,  a 
breath  of  the  odors  of  Paradise,  the  token  that  you 
have  received  a blessing  from  Him  whose  ‘ fingers  drop 
with  sweet- smelling  myrrh.’  ” 


Chapter  36 

©n  assisting  at  dfcass  on  Weefesdags 


HRISTIANS  are  sometimes  heard  to  say:  “ We 


wish  that  we  could  love  and  serve  God  better, 
and  expiate  our  sins,  but  we  can  not  do  this,  because 
we  do  not  know  how  to  set  about  it.” 

It  is  easy  to  teach  you,  and  you  have  at  your  disposal 
a very  simple  means  of  accomplishing  your  wish.  This 
means  is,  to  assist  at  holy  Mass  on  days  when  such 
attendance  is  not  obhgatory.  A few  days  before  his 
death,  St.  Leonard  of  Port  Maurice  passed  through 
Foligno,  and  wished  to  say  Mass  there.  As  he  was  so 
weak  that  he  could  scarcely  stand,  the  ReUgious  who 
accompanied  him  entreated  him  not  to  carry  out  his 
intention.  But  the  saint  replied,  speaking  with  great 
emphasis:  “Brother,  one  single  Mass  is  of  greater 
value  than  aU  the  treasures  which  the  world  contains.” 
Yes,  indeed,  a Mass  worthily  celebrated  or  devoutly 
heard  is  to  be  preferred  above  everything  else ; it  makes 
us  forget  the  wickedness  of  the  world  in  which  we  live. 
In  holy  Mass  God  is  adored  and  thanked  as  it  is  His 
will  to  be  adored  and  thanked;  the  infinite  merits  of 
Jesus  Christ  are  offered  to  God  as  an  expiation  for  our 
sins ; and  through  the  divine  Victim  on  our  altars  every 
kind  of  grace  is  obtained.  Every  other  religious  act 
becomes  insignificant  when  compared  with  hearing 
Mass.  It  is  a thing  more  pleasing  to  God  and  more 
profitable  to  our  souls  to  hear  holy  Mass  when  one  is  able 
to  do  so  than,  for  instance,  to  say  one’s  rosary  at  home. 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  183 

Yet  how  many  Christians  content  themselves  with 
assisting  at  Mass  on  days  which  are  of  obligation  only, 
and  on  other  days  make  it  a rule  never  to  be  seen  in  a 
church.  Whether  you  enter  a church  in  town  or  in 
the  country,  what  do  you  find,  if  it  happens  to  be  a 
week-day,  in  the  greater  number  of  parishes  ? At  the 
most,  a mere  handful  of  individuals  are  present  while 
Mass  is  being  said. 

It  is  deplorable  to  see  how  the  streets  and  parks,  the 
shops  and  restaurants,  are  crowded  with  idlers,  while 
the  churches  are  left  almost  empty! 

How  painful  is  the  indifference  thus  manifested  in 
return  for  the  love  of  the  Saviour  for  us,  and  for  the 
inestimable  gift  of  Himself  which  He  bestows  upon  us 
on  the  altar.  While  Jesus  offers  Himself  anew  as  a 
Victim  for  our  salvation,  while  He  beseeches  His 
Father  to  pardon  us,  to  judge  us  leniently,  we  pass  un- 
heeding by  the  churches  where  holy  Mass  is  being  said, 
as  if  we  had  nothing  to  do  with  it. 

If  this  divine  Sacrifice  were  only  offered  once  in  each 
year  and  by  only  one  priest,  taught  as  we  are  by  faith 
of  its  infinite  value,  we  should  doubtless  count  no  effort 
too  great  in  order  to  avail  ourselves  of  the  inestimable 
privilege  of  assisting  at  it.  But  because  God,  in  His 
goodness,  wills  that  it  should  be  offered  at  all  times 
and  in  all  places,  we  scarcely  think  anything  of  it. 

Why  do  so  few  persons  assist  at  Mass  on  week-days  ? 
For  two  reasons  — slothfulness  and  negligence.  At  cer- 
tain seasons  of  the  year  a great  number  of  Christians 
might  assist  at  Mass  nearly  every  day.  But  in  order 
to  do  this  it  would  be  necessary  to  take  some  trouble, 
to  rise  earlier,  to  face  bad  weather,  to  endure  a little 
heat  or  cold  (as  the  case  might  be),  to  walk  a short  dis- 
tance; this  excuse  is  enough  to  prevent  some  persons 
from  going  to  Mass. 

Let  us  take  the  instance  of  a woman  who  knows  what 
the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  really  is,  and  is  aware  of 
its  infinite  value.  But  what  does  it  matter  to  her  that 
God  should  be  worshiped,  adored,  thanked,  and  ap- 
peased as  He  wills  to  be?  Yet  she  wishes  every  one 


184  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

to  esteem  and  respect  her;  if  she  renders  any  one  a 
service,  she  exacts  a due  need  of  thanks;  the  slightest 
offence  puts  her  quite  out  of  temper;  but  it  never 
occurs  to  her  that  her  Creator  expects  from  her  that 
which  she  so  strictly  exacts  from  her  fellow-creatures. 
Another  excuse  which  some  Christians  make  in  order 
to  dispense  themselves  from  assisting  at  Mass  is  the 
following:  “ There  is  no  obligation  to  assist  at  Mass 
on  ordinary  days,  and  it  is  therefore  not  wrong  to  keep 
away.”  This  reply  contains  a mixture  of  truth  and 
falsehood.  There  is  certainly  no  obligation  to  hear 
holy  Mass,  except  on  Sundays  and  feasts,  but  does 
there  not  exist  for  every  Christian  a general  obligation 
to  employ  his  time  aright,  to  perform  good  works,  and 
to  profit  by  all  the  means  of  salvation  which  God  offers 
us?  And  is  not  this  enough  to  induce  us  to  assist  at 
Mass  whenever  we  are  able  to  do  so  ? Let  us,  more- 
over, add  that  he  who  is  afraid  of  doing  too  much  for 
God  is  a poor  Christian,  and,  if  we  may  so  speak,  drives 
a bargain  with  Him  in  regard  to  everything  which  He 
does  not  strictly  require.  The  Lord  loves  generous 
souls,  and  it  is  on  them  that  He  bestows  His  choicest 
gifts. 

The  last  pretext  which  is  put  forward  for  not  assist- 
ing at  Mass  on  days  which  are  not  of  obligation  is  the 
following:  “ We  have  not  time,  our  occupations  do  not 
allow  of  our  so  doing.”  This  may  possibly  be  true  for  a 
considerable  number  of  persons,  but  it  is  utterly  false 
in  the  case  of  others.  There  are  in  all  towns  and  in 
many  country  parishes  people  who  are  very  busy  and 
who  yet  know  how  to  find  half  an  hour  every  day  in 
order  to  hear  Mass.  They  are  poor  working-men, 
humble  domestic  servants,  who  rise  earlier  in  order  to 
be  able  to  assist  at  holy  Mass. 

Many  persons  could  find  time  to  hear  Mass  if  they 
did  not  indulge  in  useless  conversations,  and  if  they 
pursued  their  occupations  with  more  industry.  The 
time  you  consecrate  to  God  in  order  to  hear  Mass  will 
not  be  prejudicial  to  your  material  interests;  for  God 
is  wont  to  show  Himself  liberal  in  regard  to  those  who 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  185 

seek  first  His  kingdom  and  His  justice.  “ All  other 
things,”  as  Jesus  Christ  says,  “ shall  be  added  unto 
them.” 

St.  Germaine  Cousin  was  in  the  habit  of  hearing 
Mass  every  day.  No  sooner  did  the  first  stroke  of  the 
bell  fall  upon  her  ear  than  she  left  her  little  flock  in  the 
field  and  hastened  to  take  refuge  at  the  feet  of  the 
Divine  Shepherd.  This  conduct  would  have  been  blame- 
worthy in  the  case  of  many  persons;  and  those  who 
neglect  their  duty  in  order  to  satisfy  their  devotion 
certainly  possess  a mistaken  piety.  But  Germaine 
only  obeyed  a divine  inspiration;  she  felt  confident 
that  no  harm  would  happen  to  her  flock  during  her 
absence,  and  that  God  would  watch  over  it  for  her. 
Even  when  her  sheep  were  feeding  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
forest  where  wolves  were  to  be  found  in  great  num- 
bers, the  saintly  shepherdess  thrust  her  distaff  into  the 
ground  as  soon  as  she  heard  the  bell,  and  speedily 
answered  to  the  call  of  Him  Who  said : “ Fear  not,  little 
flock,  I will  be  with  you.”  On  her  return,  she  found 
the  sheep  exactly  where  she  had  left  them,  as  quiet 
and  safe  as  if  they  had  been  in  the  fold;  and  never  did 
the  flock  which  was  guarded  by  the  distaff  of  the  absent 
shepherdess  get  out  of  bounds,  or  do  any  harm  in  the 
neighboring  fields. 

Believe  us,  devout  soul,  when  we  tell  you  that  if  you 
assist  at  holy  Mass  whenever  you  are  able  to  do  so, 
the  gentle  Lamb  Who  is  slain  for  your  sake  on  the  altar 
will  bless  you  both  in  time  and  in  eternity. 


Chapter  37 

Ibolg  dibase  a Ibomage  of  Supreme  lEsteem1 
Zeal  for  assisting  at  ibolp  flibass 
©ccupatlons  of  tbe  Soul  During  Ibolp  rilbass 

aONSIDERED  as  a sacrifice,  the  Eucharist  is, 
above  all  things,  a sacrifice  of  latria;  that  is  to 
1 From  Hamon’s  Meditations,  Vol.  Ill  (inserted  by  the 
Editor). 


1 86  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


say,  destined  to  honor  the  divine  greatness  and  the 
supreme  dominion  of  God  over  all  creatures.  In  order 
to  understand  the  honor  which  the  Holy  Sacrifice  ren- 
ders to  God,  we  shall  consider:  first,  that  it  is  a 
homage  of  supreme  esteem  for  the  divine  greatness; 
secondly,  that  this  greatness  is  infinitely  worthy  of 
supreme  esteem.  We  will  then  make  the  resolution: 
first,  to  assist  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice  with  profound  rever- 
ence for  the  greatness  of  God,  so  perfectly  honored  by 
Jesus  Christ;  secondly,  not  to  lose  sight  in  the  whole 
of  our  conduct,  down  to  our  most  secret  feelings,  of  the 
supreme  esteem  due  to  God  above  all  things.  Our 
spiritual  nosegay  shall  be  the  words  of  Job:  “ Behold 
God  is  great,  exceeding  our  knowledge.”  (Job  xxxvi. 
26.) 

How  the  Holy  Sacrifice  is  an  Homage  of  Supreme  Es- 
teem Offered  to  God 

By  sacrifice  considered  in  general  is  meant  the  de- 
struction of  a victim  immolated  in  order  to  declare  in 
the  presence  of  heaven  and  of  earth  that  all  the  excel- 
lence or  the  beauty  of  creatures  is  nothing,  and  ought 
to  be  counted  as  nothing,  in  comparison  with  the  in- 
finite perfection  of  God ; that  no  created  being  is  worthy 
to  subsist  in  His  presence;  that  divine  greatness,  which 
can  not  ascend  any  higher,  merits  to  be  honored  by  an 
abasement  which  can  not  be  more  profound,  that  is  to 
say,  destruction  and  nothingness;  lastly,  that  God 
suffices  perfectly  to  Himself  in  the  infinite  plenitude 
of  His  excellence.  But  if  such  is  the  signification  of 
the  supreme  esteem  offered  to  God  by  sacrifice  in 
general,  what  is  it  in  regard  to  the  Sacrifice  of  the  Altar  ? 
It  surpasses  all  other  sacrifices  by  as  much  as  God  sur- 
passes His  creature ; for  the  value  of  homage  increases 
in  proportion  to  the  dignity  of  him  who  renders  it  and 
the  humble  manner  in  which  it  is  rendered.  Now  here, 
who  can  be  greater  than  the  Sacrificer  Who  renders 
homage  to  God?  He  is  God  Himself.  What  can  be 
more  humble  than  the  manner  in  which  it  is  rendered  ? 
God  Himself  becomes  the  Victim,  and  immolates  Him- 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  187 

self  upon  the  altar  as  really  as  He  did  formerly  upon 
Calvary.  “ This  is  My  body,”  the  priest  says  over  the 
bread;  and,  in  virtue  of  those  words,  there  will  be 
nothing  there  but  the  body.  “ This  is  My  blood”  the 
priest  says  over  the  wine,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
theological  principle  that  the  sacramental  words  pro- 
duce what  they  signify  and  nothing  more , there  is  noth- 
ing there  but  the  blood,  really  separated  from  the  body; 
and  if  it  do  not  issue  forth  in  great  streams  under  the 
blow  of  the  word  as  beneath  the  sacrificial  knife,  it  is 
because  it  is  retained  in  the  veins  of  Jesus  by  the  decree 
of  the  heavenly  Father,  which  announces  that  Christ, 
being  risen  from  the  dead,  shall  die  no  more.  Still,  the 
word  has  none  the  less  virtue  as  regards  the  sacrifice ; 
it  is  the  sword  which  pierces  the  bosom  of  the  victim, 
powerless  though  it  be,  by  means  of  a miracle,  to  kill 
it,  but  always  imprinting  upon  it  the  character  of  death 
and  attesting  to  heaven  as  well  as  to  earth  the  reality 
of  the  sacrifice.  Could  even  God  Himself  conceive  a 
higher  idea  of  its  excellence?  O Supreme  Lord,  at 
Whose  feet  a divine  Person  dies  mysteriously  in  recog- 
nition of  Thy  supreme  domain  over  every  creature,  how 
incomprehensible  is  Thy  greatness ! O Being  of  beings, 
in  presence  of  Whom  a God  makes  of  Himself  a vic- 
tim, before  Whom  the  holy  humanity  of  Jesus  Christ, 
excellent  though  it  be,  owns  itself  to  be  unworthy  to 
subsist,  and  hides  itself  under  a particle  of  a Host,  how 
adorable  Thou  art!  Yes,  it  is  therein  indeed  that  con- 
sists the  most  perfect  homage  which  can  be  offered  to 
God;  it  is  the  greatest  possible  glorification  of  the 
Divine  Being;  and  one  single  Mass  gives  more  glory 
to  God  than  He  could  receive  from  all  the  homage  of 
angels  and  saints  put  together  throughout  eternity. 

The  Divine  Greatness  is  Eminently  Worthy  of  the 

Supreme  Esteem  of  which  the  Holy  Sacrifice  is  the 

Expression 

Reason,  in  fact,  shows  to  us  God  on  a height  which 
loses  itself  essentially  in  the  infinite,  on  an  elevation 
which  homages  that  are  in  all  respects  divine,  as  is  the 


1 88  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


Holy  Sacrifice,  can  alone  worthily  honor.  Whoever 
reflects  attentively  upon  the  greatness  of  God  is  pro- 
foundly astonished  at  the  infinite  perfections  of  the 
Divine  Being;  he  discovers,  in  proportion  as  he  medi- 
tates upon  Him,  always  fresh  perfections,  beauties, 
and  charms,  compared  with  which  all  created  objects 
are  as  nothing.  (Ill,  Imit.,  xxxi.  2.)  From  this  su- 
preme astonishment  he  passes  into  an  ecstasy  of  spirit 
which  clearly  sees  that,  not  only  in  this  present  life, 
but  throughout  eternity,  the  more  he  may  sound  these 
sacred  abysses,  the  greater  marvels  will  he  discover; 
he  enters  into  a ravishment  of  the  heart  which  loves 
God  because  He  is  God,  which  loves  God  alone  because 
God  alone  appears  to  him  to  be  everything,  which  loves 
Him  without  reserve  because  His  perfections  have  no 
limits,  which,  lastly,  enjoys  infinite  pleasure  on  hearing 
this  Supreme  Being  say  of  Himself:  “ ‘ I am  Who  am  ' 
(Ex.  iii.  14),  that  is  to  say,  I am  the  Being  by  essence, 
the  very  Source  of  being;  nothing  exists  except  by  Me. 
I am  the  Immutable  Being,  for  to  change  would  be  to 
cease  to  be  what  one  was  in  order  to  become  what  one 
had  not  been.  I am  the  Eternal  Being,  for  it  can  not 
be  said  of  Me,  ‘ He  has  been ,'  as  though  I existed  no 
longer,  nor,  ‘ He  will  be,'  as  though  I had  not  yet  been, 
but  eternally  ought  it  to  be  and  it  will  always  be  said, 
‘ He  is.'  No  one  else  has  being  except  through  Me, 
and  then  it  is  only  a borrowed  being.  I am  all  by  that 
alone,  that  I am.”  It  is  that  which  honors  God  in  the 
sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  and,  however  great  this  homage 
may  be,  the  Sovereign  Being  is  infinitely  worthy  of  it. 
May  we  always  thoroughly  understand  this  truth  and 
always  love  God  more  and  more  for  Himself,  inde- 
pendently of  the  blessings  we  have  received  from  Him ; 
may  we  love  Him  above  all  things,  because  our  greatest 
happiness  is  to  love  Him  and  our  greatest  misery  would 
be  not  to  love  Him. 


Let  u§  now  meditate  on  the  motives  for  the  zeal  we 
ought  always  to  feel  for  hearing  Mass ; the  first  is,  that 
of  all  religious  exercises  it  is  the  one  which  is  most 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  189 

agreeable  to  the  Most  Holy  Trinity ; the  second  is,  that 
it  is  the  one  which  is  the  most  profitable  for  us  and  for 
the  Church.  Let  us  then  make  the  resolution;  first, 
never  to  fail,  in  as  far  as  is  possible  to  hear  it  every 
day ; secondly,  to  bring  with  us  to  it  a lively  faith  and 
deep  piety.  Our  spiritual  nosegay  shall  be  the  beauti- 
ful words  of  the  “ Imitation  “ When  the  priest  cele- 
brates he  honors  God,  he  gives  joy  to  the  angels,  he 
edifies  the  Church,  he  succors  the  living  and  the  dead, 
and  he  procures  for  himself  all  kinds  of  graces.”  (IV, 
Imit.,  v.  3.) 

Let  us  adore  Our  Lord,  the  supreme  High  Priest, 
consummating  upon  the  altar  by  the  ministry  of  the 
priest,  as  well  as  upon  the  cross  in  His  own  person,  the 
sacrifice  which  glorifies  God  and  which  saves  the  world. 
Let  us  thank  Him  for  admitting  all  of  us  to  participate 
in  the  merits  of  this  solemn  act.  “ Come  to  Me  ” 
(Matt.  xi.  28),  He  cries  aloud  to  us;  let  us  promise  Him 
to  respond  to  this  amiable  invitation  with  eagerness 
and  love. 

Holy  Mass  is,  of  all  Religious  Acts , the  one  which  is 
the  most  Agreeable  to  the  Most  Holy  Trinity 

It  is  to  the  Most  Holy  Trinity  alone  that  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  can  be  offered,1  and  what  better  acts  could 
be  offered  to  Him  than  the  one  which  procures  for  Him 
infinite  glory,  which  renders  infinite  thanksgiving  for 
all  His  benefits,  and  which  satisfies  His  justice  by  an 
infinite  reparation?  Now  the  sacrifice  of  the  Mass 
unites  these  three  great  advantages,  as  we  have  seen; 
whence  we  ought  to  conclude  that  we  can  do  nothing 
which  is  more  agreeable  to  God  than  to  assist  at  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  when  we  do  not  offer  it,  and  to  come  and 
welcome  His  Son  at  the  moment  when  He  descends, 
from  amidst  the  splendors  of  the  saints,  upon  the  altar, 
to  offer  Him  our  praises  and  our  love,  to  unite  our 
prayers  with  His,  the  sacrifice  of  ourselves  with  the 

1 Prayers  of  the  Offertory  and  before  the  blessing  of  the 
priest. 


190  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

sacrifice  which  He  makes  therein  of  His  own  person, 
and  through  Him  to  adore,  to  love,  and  to  bless  the 
Most  Holy  Trinity,  to  Whom  He  offers  Himself.  A 
great  monarch  who  should  send  his  son  *to  visit  his 
provinces  would  be  offended  by  the  negligence  of  those 
among  his  subjects  who  did  not  come  and  welcome  his 
beloved  son ; and  he  would,  on  the  contrary,  be  flattered 
by  the  eagerness  with  which  his  other  subjects  would 
come  and  welcome  him  and  make  the  air  resound  with 
their  exclamations  of  love  and  devotion.  It  is  the  same 
with  the  Holy  Sacrifice;  in  the  same  degree  in  which 
the  Most  Holy  Trinity  beholds  with  displeasure  the 
indifference  which  leaves  almost  alone  in  the  church  the 
celebrant  with  his  humble  server,  it  beholds  with  de- 
light a numerous  assemblage  of  the  faithful  collected 
together  before  the  altar,  praying  and  adoring  with  the 
priest.  Mary  and  John,  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  assist- 
ing at  the  death  of  the  Saviour  on  Calvary,  were  the 
objects  of  the  complaisance  of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity; 
they  were  the  type  of  Christians  assisting  at  the  sac- 
rifice of  the  Mass,  since  it  is  the  same  sacrifice  on  the 
altar  that  it  was  on  Calvary.  Let  us  hence  learn  to 
assist  as  often  as  possible  at  Holy  Mass,  and  let  us 
have  a horror  of  those  who  do  not  assist  at  it  when  they 
might. 

The  Holy  Sacrifice  zs,  of  all  Religious  Acts , the  one 
which  is  the  most  Profitable  to  us  and  to  the  Church. 

First,  it  is  evident  that  no  prayer,  not  even  that  of 
the  whole  of  the  angels,  is  to  be  compared  in  value  to 
that  of  Jesus  Christ  immolating  Himself  upon  the  altar, 
and  making  all  His  wounds,  as  though  they  were  so 
many  supplicating  voices,  to  pray  for  us.  To  neglect, 
by  our  absence  through  insufficient  motives,  so  powerful 
a prayer,  is  to  be  our  own  enemy;  it  is  to  sin  against 
our  dearest  interests.  Secondly,  to  offer  the  Holy 
Sacrifice,  or  only  to  unite  with  the  priest  who  offers  it, 
assisting  at  it  in  the  spirit  and  intention  with  which  he 
offers  it,  is  to  procure  joy  for  the  Church  triumphant, 
solace  for  the  Church  suffering,  the  most  efficacious 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  191 

aid  for  the  Church  militant.  Now,  could  there  possibly 
be  anything  more  profitable  for  the  universal  Church  ? 
For  the  sake  of  the  love  we,  bear  to  our  brethren  in 
heaven,  ought  we  not  to  esteem  ourselves  happy  to  be 
able  to  help  them  to  glorify  and  to  thank  the  Lord? 
For  the  sake  of  the  sufferings  of  the  souls  in  purgatory 
ought  it  not  to  be  a joy  to  us  to  solace  them  by  the 
Divine  Sacrifice  ? Thirdly,  if  we  are  alive  to  the  woes 
of  the  Church  Militant,  to  the  troubles  of  all  kinds  to 
which  all  the  children  of  Adam  are  subjected,  what 
happiness  for  us  to  come  to  their  aid  by  this  same  sac- 
rifice! Oh,  how  these  thoughts  ought  to  make  us 
assiduous  in  assisting  at  Holy  Mass,  as  far  as  is  pos- 
sible to  us ! Have  we  this  zeal  in  hearing  and  in  piously 
assisting  at  it  ? 

As  to  the  occupations  of  the  soul  during  Mass,  let 
us  consider  how  suitable  it  is  to  occupy  ourselves : first, 
with  the  passion  and  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ; 
secondly,  with  the  ends  of  the  Sacrifice;  thirdly,  with 
the  love  which  God  the  Father  and  Jesus  Christ  His 
Son  testify  to  us  in  this  mystery.  We  will  then  make 
the  resolution:  first,  no  longer  to  assist  at  holy  Mass 
from  habit  or  routine,  without  some  fixed  and  precise 
object  to  prevent  the  soul  from  being  distracted; 
secondly,  to  occupy  ourselves  with  one  of  the  three  con- 
siderations which  we  have  just  indicated.  Our  spiritual 
nosegay  shall  be  the  words  of  the  Council  of  Trent: 
“ Therein  is  immolated  in  an  unbloody  maimer  the 
same  Jesus  Christ  Who  on  the  altar  of  the  cross  immo- 
lated Himself  in  a bloody  manner.” 

Let  us  honor  the  most  holy  Virgin  upon  Calvary  as 
being  the  most  finished  model  of  the  spirit  which  ought 
to  animate  us  during  the  Holy  Sacrifice.  Occupied 
wholly  with  what  was  passing  before  her  eyes,  with  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  the  world,  for  which 
she  offers  the  adorable  Victim,  with  the  love  of  God, 
Who  delivers  up  to  death  His  innocent  Son,  and  with 
the  love  of  the  Son,  Who  delivers  up  Himself,  she  offers 
herself  and  immolates  herself  in  spirit  in  order  to 
make  of  herself  with  her  dear  Son  but  one  sole  and 


IQ2  instructions  and  reflections 

same  victim.  Let  us  admire  her  sublime  occupations 
and  adore  the  Holy  Spirit,  Who  produces  them. 

How  Suitable  it  is  to  Occupy  ourselves  during  Holy 

Mass  with  the  Passion  and  Death  of  Our  Saviour. 

What,  in  fact,  can  be  more  suitable  than  to  think  of 
what  passes  before  our  eyes  ? Now,  at  the  altar,  every- 
thing speaks  to  us  of  the  passion  and  the  death  of  the 
Saviour:  the  cross  surmounts  the  tabernacle  and  is 
seen  upon  all  the  sacred  vestments;  the  stole  repre- 
sents the  chains  by  which  Jesus  was  attached  to  the 
pillar;  the  girdle,  the  scourges  which  lacerated  His 
flesh;  the  maniple,  the  cords  with  which  He  was 
bound;  the  passing  to  and  fro  of  the  priest  from  one 
side  to  another  of  the  altar  recalls  to  mind  the  different 
tribunals  at  which  He  was  made  to  appear.  The  Mass 
itself  is  a lively  and  real  reproduction  of  the  sacrifice  of 
Calvary;  it  is  the  same  Victim  and  the  same  Priest. 
It  is  true  that  in  it  Jesus  Christ  borrows  the  person  of  a 
man  to  render  His  invisible  priesthood  visible;  but  in 
reality  it  is  always  Jesus  Christ  Who  consecrates,  Jesus 
Christ  Who  immolates  Himself,  Jesus  Christ  Who 
prays.  Ought  not  all  this  to  show  us  that  during  holy 
Mass  we  ought  to  meditate  upon  His  passion  and  death, 
inspired  by  the  same  pious  sentiments  with  which  we 
should  have  been  animated  had  we  assisted,  together 
with  Mary  and  St.  John,  at  His  agony  upon  Calvary; 
that,  consequently,  we  ought  to  sacrifice  ourselves, 
body  and  soul,  to  the  great  living  God,  in  order  to  form, 
with  Jesus  Christ,  but  one  sole  victim? 

How  Suitable  it  is  to  Occupy  ourselves  during  Mass 
with  the  Ends  of  the  Sacrifice. 

These  ends,  as  we  have  already  shown,  are,  first,  to 
render  to  God  the  worship  of  latria  by  a supreme  esteem 
for  His  greatness,  respect  for  His  lofty  majesty,  and 
submission  to  His  supreme  dominion  over  us ; secondly, 
to  thank  Him  for  His  numberless  benefits;  thirdly,  to 
make  reparation  for  the  offence  of  sin,  and  to  inspire 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  193 

ourselves  with  a lively  desire  to  destroy  its  reign  upon 
earth ; fourthly,  to  ask  God  for  all  the  succor  and  all 
the  graces  of  which  the  whole  world  stands  in  need, 
and  which  we  ourselves  also  need.  Now  what  can  be 
more  suitable  than  to  occupy  ourselves  with  all  these 
holy  things?  Not  to  do  so  would  be,  first,  to  miss  the 
object  of  the  Sacrifice,  because  these  are  its  ends; 
secondly,  it  would  be  to  deprive  our  soul  of  the  most 
excellent  resources  of  piety,  since  we  can  think  of  noth- 
ing which  is  better,  nothing  which  is  more  glorious  to 
God,  nothing  which  is  more  useful  to  ourselves;  it 
would  be,  thirdly,  to  render  the  prayers  of  the  liturgy 
unintelligible  to  us,  because  these  ends  are,  as  it  were, 
the  key  which  opens  the  meaning  of  them. 

How  Suitable  it  is , during  Mass,  to  Occupy  ourselves 

with  the  Love  which  God  the  Father  and  Jesus  Christ 

His  Son  Testify  to  us  in  this  Mystery. 

God  the  Father,  at  the  moment  of  the  Sacrifice,  opens 
His  bosom  to  give  us  His  Son,  in  order  that  He  may 
be  our  victim,  our  pontiff,  our  mediator,  our  food,  our 
consolation,  our  all;  and  God  the  Son,  accepting  this 
mission,  gives  Himself  to  us  without  reserve,  offers 
and  immolates  Himself  for  us,  remains  with  us  as  the 
companion  and  consoler  of  our  exile,  the  supplement 
of  our  religion  and  of  all  our  duties  toward  His  Father,, 
the  model  of  all  virtue  and  of  all  holiness,  the  life  of 
our  life,  the  strength  of  our  weakness;  in  a word,  He 
spends  Himself  wholly  for  us.  Now,  where  God  is  so 
prodigal  of  His  love,  what  can  be  more  suitable  than 
for  us  to  occupy  ourselves  with  this  love,  than  to  exert 
ourselves  to  render  to  so  good  a Father,  to  so  generous 
a Son,  love  for  love,  and  to  imitate  the  blessed  spirits, 
overwhelmed  by  an  eternal  ecstasy  of  love  in  presence 
of  the  eternal  love  of  God?  (St.  Chrysostom,  de 
Sacerd.j  lib.  iii.,  cap.  ii.)  Do  we  occupy  ourselves 
during  holy  Mass  with  some  of  these  thoughts,  accord- 
ing as  grace  attracts  us? 


194  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 


Chapter  38 

©n  tbe  3Lov>e  of  aibatg  for  ftbose  wbo  Ibeat 
/Ifcass  ffrequentlE 

^7  A T*E  have  spoken  of  the  love  of  the  Blessed  Virgin 
VJcJL  for  those  who  visit  Our  Lord  in  the  Adorable 
Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  and  for  those  who  receive  holy 
communion  frequently;  it  now  remains  for  us  to  ad- 
dress a few  words  to  the  reader  on  the  affection  that 
our  gracious  Mother  feels  for  Christians  who  frequently 
assist  at  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  The  manner 
in  which  the  Blessed  Virgin  acted  when  she  stood  at 
the  foot  of  the  cross  whereon  Jesus  hung,  and  her  un- 
failing attendance  at  the  Mass  that  St.  John  celebrated, 
show  us  what  our  conduct  ought  to  be  in  regard  to 
assistance  at  holy  Mass  if  we  would  be  acceptable  in 
Mary’s  sight. 

We  learn  from  the  account  given  by  St.  John  in  his 
Gospel  (we  quote  the  words  of  P.  Giraud)  that  Mary 
stood  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  Now,  the  Fathers  of  the 
Church  and  other  writers  have  said  wondrous  things 
on  this  subject.  Mary  stood;  but  what  part  did  she 
act,  what  share  did  she  take  in  the  great  work  accom- 
plished on  Calvary?  She  was  present  there,  they  tell 
us,  co-operating  in  the  most  perfect  manner  in  the 
sacrifice  that  was  offered  upon  the  cross.  She  had 
herself  brought  into  the  world,  as  it  were  given  to  us, 
this  divine  Victim,  and  in  this  momentous  hour  such 
was  her  union  with  Jesus  that  it  may  almost  be  said 
that  she  took  part  with  Jesus  in  the  accomplishment  of 
His  sacrifice.  She  was,  as  it  were,  the  altar  on  which 
that  sacrifice  was  offered;  she  was  also  in  a certain 
manner  the  priest  who  offered  it ; and  the  holy  Fathers 
have  termed  her  the  co-redemptrice  with  Jesus  in  the 
salvation  of  souls,  the  reparatrix  of  our  fall,  a sharer  in 
the  expiation  of  the  sins  of  the  world. 

“ From  the  first  institution  of  the  Church,”  P. 
Eymard  tells  us,  “ Mass  was  said  daily.  The  Blessed 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  195 

Virgin  lived  under  the  same  roof  as  St.  John.  He  was 
a priest,  a bishop,  in  fact,  and  every  day  he  celebrated 
the  August  Sacrifice  in  her  presence.  He  offered  it  in 
order  to  afford  the  immaculate  Virgin  the  means  of 
satisfying  the  longings  of  her  love  and  fulfilling  her  duty 
as  a child  of  the  Church;  for,  although  she  was  the 
Mother  of  all  the  faithful,  she  was  still  a daughter  of 
holy  Church,  a member  of  Christ’s  mystical  body. 
Now,  if  she  accomplished  with  exactitude  even  the 
least  prescriptions  of  the  Mosaic  law,  would  she  not  all 
the  more  faithfully  perform  the  practices  of  Christian 
devotion  enjoined  by  the  law  of  love  of  her  divine 
Son?  ” 

Well  may  we  believe  that  Mary  assisted  every  day 
at  the  Holy  Sacrifice;  it  was  her  strength,  her  life,  and 
her  true  spiritual  nourishment,  for  every  day  she  re- 
ceived communion.  With  what  fervor  did  she  not  hear 
Mass!  Words  are  too  feeble  to  describe  it;  to  do  so 
we  should  need  the  pen  of  St.  John,  who  was  privileged 
to  witness  it,  or  a direct  revelation  from  that  loving 
Mother.  We  may,  however,  make  one  remark  which 
may  enable  us  to  form  some  idea  of  her  dispositions  at 
that  time:  “ The  sacrifice  offered  upon  the  altar,”  says 
the  sacred  Council  of  Trent,  “ is  the  same  that  was 
offered  on  Calvary;  the  Priest  is  the  same,  the  Victim 
is  the  same.”  We  can  scarcely  with  our  feeble  faith 
grasp  the  truth  expressed  in  these  words,  and  see  in  the 
Eucharistic  Sacrifice  the  sacrifice  of  the  cross.  But 
Mary’s  maternal  heart,  her  faith,  her  supernatural  en- 
lightenment, enabled  her  fully  to  understand  it.  For 
her  there  was  nothing  of  differentiation  between  the 
two  sacrifices.  At  the  altar,  even  as  on  Calvary,  the 
sword  of  sorrow  which  caused  the  death  of  her  Son 
immolated  His  Mother  also,  and  all  the  feelings,  the 
dispositions  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  when  present  at  the 
Holy  Sacrifice  may  be  summed  up  in  her  compassion. 
Mary  offered  herself  as  an  oblation  with  Jesus,  with 
Him  she  expired,  united  with  Him,  animated  as  He  was 
by  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the  salvation  of  the 
world. 


196  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

Mary’s  deportment  on  Calvary,  the  recollection 
wherewith  she  assisted  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice  offered  by 
St.  John,  teaches  us  how  earnestly  we  ought  to  en- 
deavor to  hear  Mass  frequently  if  we  would  please  our 
gracious  Mother.  We  have  already  pointed  out  that 
the  priest  who  celebrated  the  Holy  Sacrifice  gives  glory 
to  the  Holy  Trinity,  rejoices  the  angels,  edifies  the 
Church  Militant,  and  affords  relief  to  the  souls  in  pur- 
gatory; but  we  have  said  nothing  of  the  joy,  the  glory 
Mary  most  derives  from  it.  Is  it  possible  that  she 
should  hold  aloof  from  the  sacrifice  offered  upon  our 
altars,  that  she  should  have  no  part  in  it?  No  one 
would  dare  to  think  of  such  a thing,  much  less  assert  it 
as  a fact.  Can  we  believe  that  while  angels  surround 
the  priest  who  offers  the  Holy  Sacrifice,  the  Queen 
of  Angels  should  pay  no  heed  either  to  the  offici- 
ating priest  or  the  faithful  who  are  present  at  holy 
Mass? 

On  the  contrary,  it  is  more  natural  to  us  to  think 
that  Mary  is  always  present  whenever  and  wherever 
the  August  Sacrifice  is  offered.  We  do  not  know  how 
this  can  be,  but  if  we  shrink  from  speaking  of  this  mys- 
tery, does  not  our  heart  lead  us  to  believe  that  Mary  is 
really  with  us  when  Christ  immolates  Himself  anew  on 
our  altars?  “ O holy  Virgin,”  the  pious  Gerson  ex- 
claims, “ may  we  venture  to  say  that  thou  art  actually 
present  here  in  this  temple  as  is  thy  Son,  our  Em- 
manuel? Yes,  thou  art  indeed  here.  Not  in  a cor- 
poreal presence  (although  a glorified  body,  by  virtue  of 
its  agility,  might  be  present  here  unseen  by  us)  yet 
thou  art  at  least  present  in  this  sanctuary  inasmuch  as 
thou  dost  exercise  a spiritual  influence  on  those  who 
love  thee,  and  on  whom  thou  dost  vouchsafe  to  turn 
those  merciful  eyes  of  thine.” 

We  may,  therefore,  be  well  assured  that  Mary  loves 
all  priests  who  say  Mass  with  great  devotion.  In  them 
she  sees  again  St.  John,  or  rather  she  regards  each  one 
as  another  Christ:  sacerdos  alter  Christus.  The  priest 
is  another  Christ,  and  therefore  he  is  another  child  of 


INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS  197 

Mary.  In  the  Life  of  the  Blessed  Francis  of  Possadas 
it  is  said  that  every  time  that  he  said  Mass  in  honor  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  she  appeared  to  him  at  the  altar  in 
a manner  that  corresponded  to  the  circumstances  of 
the  feast  of  the  day;  thus,  on  Christmas  Day,  she 
showed  herself  to  him  as  she  was  when  watching  be- 
side the  crib,  and  on  the  day  when  her  Compassion  is 
commemorated,  as  she  was  when  standing  at  the  foot 
of  the  cross.  A pious  practice  adopted  by  many  priests 
is  that  of  offering  the  Holy  Sacrifice  for  the  intentions 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  It  is  a beautiful  means  of  plac- 
ing anew  the  body  of  her  Son  in  her  maternal  and  vir- 
ginal embrace. 

If  the  Blessed  Virgin  loves  the  holy  priests  who  cele- 
brate Mass  devoutly,  she  also  regards  with  affection 
those  who  assist  at  it  with  fervor.  This  tender  Mother 
knows  what  we  have  cost  her  divine  Son,  and  her  ma- 
ternal heart  is  touched  when  she  sees  us  availing  our- 
selves of  the  merits  gained  by  the  precious  blood  of 
Christ,  to  offer  it  to  the  Eternal  Father  as  an  oblation 
of  praise  and  of  expiation.  Mary  desires  nothing  more 
than  to  see  us  loving  Jesus  and  profiting  by  the  graces 
which  He  is  ready  to  bestow  on  us.  Now,  the  means 
whereby  we  may  increase  in  the  love  of  Jesus  and  en- 
rich ourselves  by  the  acceptance  of  His  treasures,  is  to 
entertain  a great  love  for  the  Holy  Eucharist,  to  receive 
it,  to  assist  as  frequently  and  as  devoutly  as  possible  at 
the  Holy  Sacrifice. 

Alas,  what  grief  Mary  must  feel  at  seeing  how  neg- 
lectful Christians  are  of  the  duty  of  hearing  Mass,  how 
little  is  the  recollection  of  those  who  do  hear  it,  how 
slight  is  the  profit  they  derive  from  this  great  means  of 
salvation!  In  too  many  churches  the  Mother  of  our 
Redeemer  beholds  the  sad  scene  of  Calvary  re-enacted; 
but  few  are  the  pious  souls  who,  following  the  example 
of  Mary  Magdalen  and  the  holy  women,  gain  the  merits 
obtained  for  them  by  the  precious  Blood,  shed  anew 
upon  the  altar;  how  many  quit  the  divine  presence  with 
empty  hands!  Mary,  the  Mother  of  Jesus,  wept  while 


i98  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  REFLECTIONS 

the  sacrifice  of  Calvary  was  being  offered;  will  her 
tears  cease  to  flow  at  the  sight  of  so  many  sanctuaries 
where  Jesus  is  little  known  and  still  less  loved? 

“ O thou  Mother,  fount  of  love! 

Touch  my  spirit  from  above, 

Make  my  heart  with  thine  accord; 

Make  me  feel  as  thou  hast  felt; 

Make  my  soul  to  glow  and  melt 
With  the  love  of  Christ  my  Lord.” 


HppenDu 

Concerning  Certain  practices  of  Devotion 
CowarO  tbe  /Hbost  Ibolv  Sacrament  ano  tbe 
SacreO  Ibeart  of  Jesus 


Chapter  t 

Qn  tbe  ^position  anb  JSenebiction  of  tbe 
JBlesseD  Sacrament 

content  with  immolating  Himself  for  us  in  the 
«-■-&  Sacrifice  of  the  New  Law,  with  nourishing  our 
souls  by  participation  in  the  adorable  sacrament  of  the 
Eucharist,  Jesus  Christ  furthermore  vouchsafes  to  abide 
day  and  night  in  our  tabernacles.  This  custom  of  re- 
serving the  sacred  body  of  the  Lord  goes  back  to  the 
first  ages  of  Christianity,  and  is  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promise  given  by  Jesus  Christ:  “ Behold  I am  with  you 
all  days,  even  unto  the  consummation  of  the  vorld.” 
The  Christians  of  the  early  Church  even  had  the  privi- 
lege granted  them  of  preserving  this  sacred  deposit  in 
their  houses.  When  first  reserved  in  the  churches,  it 
was  enclosed  in  silver  doves  that  were  suspended  above 
the  altar;  later  on,  it  was  placed  in  the  tabernacle. 
Our  Saviours  object  in  thus  abiding  with  us  is  to  be 
our  faithful  companion  in  our  pilgrimage,  to  be  ever  at 
hand  to  receive  our  vows,  to  speak  to  us  heart  to  heart, 
to  bestow  upon  us  His  graces  and  His  benefits.  In 
former  times,  a single  lamp,  burning  perpetually  before 
the  altar,  alone  indicated  His  presence  there.  But  now 
the  Church,  desirous  of  multiplying  her  acts  of  homage 
in  proportion  to  the  insults  which,  as  time  went  on,  were 
increasingly  offered  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Sacrament 
of  His  love,  appointed  fresh  means  of  honoring  His 
presence  upon  our  altars  and  kindling  the  fervor  of  her 
children.  Hence  came  the  custom  of  venerating  Our 
Lord  in  the  Exposition  and  Benediction  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament. 


199 


200 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


The  priest,  vested  in  surplice  and  stole,  takes  the 
sacred  Host  contained  in  the  lunette,  places  it  in  the 
monstrance,  and  then  exposes  it  for  the  adoration  of 
the  faithful.  At  that  time  Jesus,  like  a kind  and  tender 
father,  invites  all  Christian  people  to  draw  abundantly 
from  the  inexhaustible  treasury  of  grace.  Happy  is  the 
moment  of  Exposition,  of  Benediction  of  the  Most  Holy 
Sacrament,  for  the  soul  that  believes  implicitly!  To 
each  one  Jesus  seems  to  speak  from  the  throne  of  His 
love,  saying:  “ O thou  who  art  dear  to  Me,  thou  whose 
soul  I have  ransomed  by  shedding  My  blood  for  thee, 
what  desirest  thou?  What  askest  thou?  I am  here 
to  listen  to  thee,  to  console  thee,  to  strengthen  thee.” 

The  Christian  soul,  responding  to  the  love  of  her 
Redeemer,  believes,  adores,  gives  thanks,  humbles  her- 
self, and  finally  proffers  her  petitions. 

1.  The  Christian  soul’s  first  act  is  one  of  faith.  She 
recollects  herself  in  the  presence  of  her  Lord;  with  the 
eye  of  faith  she  beholds  the  sacred  body  and  the  pre- 
cious blood  of  Christ  in  the  sacred  Host.  O Jesus,  I 
believe  that  Thou  art  really  present  upon  this  altar, 
and  I believe  it  because  Thou  hast  said  it.  Credo  quid- 
quid  dixit  Dei  Filius. 

2.  The  next  act  is  one  of  adoration.  -Is  she  not  kneel- 
ing before  her  God,  her  Creator,  her  Saviour?  She 
feels  an  intense  desire  to  offer  Him  the  homage  of  her 
whole  self.  Adoro  te  devote , latens  Deitas.  — De- 
voutly, I adore  Thee,  O hidden  God. 

3.  An  act  of  thanksgiving.  The  Christian  soul  does 
not  forget  the  favors,  the  mercies  bestowed  by  Jesus  in 
the  mysteries  of  His  incarnation,  and  in  the  unspeakable 
gift  of  the  Eucharist.  What  graces  she  has  received 
from  her  God — the  grace  of  holy  Baptism,  of  first  com- 
munion, of  conversion,  or  perhaps  of  a vocation  to  the 
religious  life. 

4.  An  act  of  humiliation.  She  recalls  to  mind  her 
sins  in  order  to  repent  of  them  anew,  and  with  heart- 
felt contrition  to  ask  pardon  of  Our  Lord.  Like  Mag- 
dalen, in  spirit  she  kisses  the  Saviour’s  feet,  and  washes 
them  with  her  tears.  The  remembrance  of  her  weak- 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


201 


ness  leads  her  to  mistrust  herself  and  place  all  her  trust 
in  Jesus.  Our  Lord  looks  with  mercy  on  the  soul  that 
humbles  herself,  for  it  is  written:  “ Humilibus  autem 
dat  gratiam .”  “ To  the  humble  He  giveth  grace.” 

5.  An  act  of  petition.  The  soul,  conscious  of  her 
own  destitution,  knows  also  that  she  is  in  the  presence 
of  One  Who  can  enrich  her  abundantly  in  a single  in- 
stant. She  therefore  makes  known,  in  all  simplicity, 
her  necessities  to  Our  Lord,  and  her  prayer  is  always 
graciously  heard  by  the  divine  Master.  For  those  who 
know  what  is  the  gift  of  God,  how  happy  is  the  moment, 
how  blessed  the  hour,  when  Jesus  is  exposed  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament.  If  Christian  people  only  had  true, 
living  faith,  in  what  numbers  they  would  assist  on  Sun- 
day at  Vespers,  in  order  to  be  present  when  Benedic- 
tion of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  given!  How  well 
attended  the  prayers  of  the  Forty  Hours  would  be,  how 
many  would  take  part  in  the  Perpetual  Adoration! 

People  sometimes  go  a long  distance  to  see  some 
saint,  to  talk  to  him  and  ask  his  blessing,  and  yet,  when 
one  has  the  Saint  of  saints  at  one’s  very  door,  few  take 
the  least  trouble  to  visit  Him,  to  please  Him  and  obtain 
His  blessing. 

“ It  would  be  difficult,”  writes  Father  Faber,  “ to 
find  words  to  express  the  magnitude  and  the  reality  of 
the  graces  that  Jesus  bestows  on  us  in  the  Benediction 
of  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  On  one  occasion,  during 
Exposition  of  the  Adorable  Sacrament,  St.  Philip  Neri 
beheld  Our  Lord  in  the  Host,  giving  His  blessing  to  the 
crowd  of  worshipers  kneeling  at  His  feet,  apparently  as 
if  it  was  His  habitual  attitude,  and  the  ordinary  occu- 
pation of  His  divine  bounty  in  the  Holy  Eucharist.” 

On  the  day  of  His  Ascension,  before  ascending  into 
heaven  Our  Lord  blessed  His  apostles  and  His  disciples.1 
He  does  the  same  when  quitting  the  throne  whereon 
He  reigns  in  love,  to  return  to  His  abode  in  the  taber- 
nacle ; He  blesses  all  who  are  present.  Happy  the  soul 
who  receives  the  benediction  of  Jesus  in  the  Sacred 
Host  with  faith  and  love!  It  is  for  her  a pledge  and 
1 Elevatis  manibus  benedixit  eos.  — Luc.  xxiv.  50. 


202 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


assurance  of  the  last  blessing  which  shall  be  pronounced 
after  the  final  judgment:  “ Come,  ye  blessed  of  My 
Father,  possess  you  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world.” 

Let  us  conclude  this  chapter  by  relating  the  miracle 
which  took  place  in  the  abbey  church  of  Notre  Dame  de 
Faverney. 

Every  year  at  Pentecost,  a great  concourse  of  people 
used  to  repair  to  this  church  with  the  object  of  gaining 
the  plenary  indulgence  attached  by  the  Supreme  Pontiff 
to  the  performance  of  this  act  of  devotion.  The  abbey 
belonged  to  the  Benedictine  monks,  who  were  accus- 
tomed, on  the  recurrence  of  this  solemnity,  to  erect  at 
the  entrance  to  the  choir  a splendidly  decorated  altar, 
whereon  the  Blessed  Sacrament  was  exposed.  One 
night  that  altar ,j  on  which  two  large  Hosts  were  reserved 
in  a monstrance,  caught  fire,  and  was  entirely  reduced 
to  ashes.  The  steps  on  which  it  stood,  the  newly- 
painted  tabernacle,  the  altar-linen,  the  decorations,  the 
carpet,  were  all  consumed,  the  monstrance  alone  escap- 
ing injury,  nay  more,  it  was  found  in  its  place,  sus- 
pended in  the  air  without  support  of  any  kind.  It  re- 
mained thus  for  thirty-three  consecutive  hours,  to  the 
astonishment  and  admiration  of  more  than  ten  thou- 
sand persons,  who  flocked  thither  to  behold  the  won- 
drous sight.  At  the  end  of  those  thirty-three  hours, 
while  the  priest  of  a neighboring  village,  who  had  come 
in  procession  with  all  his  parishioners,  was  offering  the 
Holy  Sacrifice,  the  monstrance  slowly  descended,  and 
rested  on  a Missal  covered  with  a corporal  that  had 
been  placed  there  to  receive  it.  This  fresh  miracle 
was  witnessed  by  an  immense  crowd,  who,  forgetful  of 
the  sanctity  of  the  place,  burst  into  loud  acclamations. 

The  most  rigorous  investigations  were  made  by  com- 
mand of  the  archbishop  of  Besan^on,  who,  after  hearing 
the  judicial  depositions  of  the  witnesses,  decreed  that 
the  occurrence  was  miraculous.  Pope  Paul  V pub- 
lished a Bull  to  the  same  effect.  One  of  the  miracu- 
lous Hosts  was  given  to  the  town  of  Dole,  a deputation 
composed  of  the  most  distinguished  citizens  being  sent 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


203 


to  meet  and  escort  it.  The  Host  was  carried  on  a stand 
covered  with  damask,  borne  by  two  white  horses,  and 
accompanied  by  a brilliant  cortege.  Every  year  the 
miracle  is  commemorated  by  a special  ceremony  at 
Dole  and  at  Favernay. 

Be  zealous,  O Christian,  in  adoring  Jesus  when  He 
is  exposed  on  the  altar;  receive  with  thanksgiving  the 
benedictions  He  bestows  on  you  in  the  Sacrament  of 
His  love  by  the  hands  of  His  ministers,  for  they  will  be 
to  you  a pledge  of  life  eternal. 


Chapter  2 

Zbc  dfeast  of  Corpus  Cbrtsft 

*T^\URING  the  first  twelve  centuries  of  the  Christian 
JCJ  era,  the  Church  only  celebrated  the  institution  of 
the  Holy  Eucharist  on  Thursday  in  Holy  Week.  But 
two  centuries  before  the  rise  of  the  Protestant  heresy, 
which  was  to  deny  the  real  presence  of  Our  Lord  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament,  the  Church  established  a solemn 
festival,  with  the  special  object  of  honoring  the  Adorable 
Sacrament  of  the  Altar;  it  was  called  the  Feast  of  Cor- 
pus Christy  the  Feast  of  Christ’s  sacred  Body.  This 
chapter  will  be  devoted  to  ar  account  of  the  origin  and 
history  of  this  Festival. 

For  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  feast  Our  Lord 
made  use  of  a humble  Religious,  Juliana  of  Mont 
Cornillon,  near  Liege,  who  had  a great  devotion  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament.  Whilst  at  prayer,  she  had  a 
strange  and  mysterious  vision.  She  seemed  to  see  the 
full  moon,  but,  although  it  was  full,  there  appeared  to 
be  a small  portion  wanting  to  render  the  circle  perfect. 
Again  and  again  this  image  presented  itself  to  her 
mental  sight;  in  vain  she  struggled  against  it,  thinking 
it  was  a temptation,  and  many  were  the  supplications 
she  sent  up  to  Heaven  to  be  delivered  from  it.  At 
length  she  asked  to  be  acquainted  with  the  meaning  of 
it,  and  an  interior  voice  told  her  that  the  moon  repre- 
sented the  Church,  and  that  the  break  in  the  circle 


204 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


betokened  the  absence  of  a feast  which  ought  to  be 
celebrated  every  year  in  honor  of  the  institution  of  the 
Holy  Eucharist.  She  was  also  told  that  she  was  to  be 
instrumental  in  inaugurating  that  feast,  and  proclaiming 
the  obligation  of  celebrating  it.  “ Twenty  years 
elapsed,”  writes  Dom  Gueranger,  “ before  the  lowly, 
timid  Religious  could  summon  up  courage  to  take  upon 
herself  the  initiative  in  this  matter.  At  last  she  spoke 
of  it  to  one  of  the  canons  of  Liege,  Jean  de  Lausanne, 
whom  she  held  in  high  esteem  on  account  of  his  great 
sanctity,  and  besought  him  to  confer  with  some  learned 
theologians  on  the  subject.  He  did  so,  and  it  was 
unanimously  declared  that  not  only  was  there  no  objec- 
tion to  the  establishment  of  the  proposed  feast,  but  that 
on  the  contrary,  it  would  conduce  to  the  greater  glory  of 
God,  and  be  productive  of  much  good  to  the  souls  of 
the  faithful.  Encouraged  by  this  decision,  Juliana 
caused  an  Office  to  be  composed  for  the  future  festival ; 
it  commenced  with  the  words:  “ Cibus  animarum ,” 
and  was  approved  by  the  ecclesiastical  authorities. 

The  church  of  Liege  was  destined  to  have  the  honor 
of  inaugurating  the  festival  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 
It  was  a happy  day  when,  in  1246,  after  a long  time  had 
passed  and  innumerable  obstacles  had  been  sur- 
mounted, Robert  de  Torote,  the  bishop  of  Liege, 
ordained  by  the  decree  of  a synod  that  thenceforward 
a solemn  festival,  in  honor  of  the  Adorable  Sacrament 
of  the  Altar  should  be  celebrated  in  all  the  churches  of 
his  diocese  every  year  on  the  Thursday  following  Trinity 
Sunday. 

The  death  of  the  bishop  of  Liege  occurred  almost 
immediately  after  the  promulgation  of  this  decree,  and 
it  would  have  remained  a dead  letter  had  not  the  canons 
of  St.  Martin-au-Mont  determined  to  be  the  first  to 
keep  the  solemnity  in  question.  It  was,  however,  far 
from  being  well  received  elsewhere.  Juliana  was  re- 
garded as  a visionary,  the  festival  declared  to  be  an 
innovation.  Quite  enough  was  done,  some  said,  in 
honor  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  if  the  holy  sacrifice  of 
the  Mass  was  celebrated  daily;  it  seemed  superfluous 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


205 


to  have  a special  feast.  In  fact,  some  of  the  clergy 
openly  refused  to  comply  with  the  decree;  others  held 
their  peace  until  the  pronouncement  of  the  Holy  See 
was  made  known.  At  length  the  Church  spoke  by  the 
mouth  of  Urban  IV,  who,  on  September  8, 1264,  issued 
a Bull  extending  the  feast  to  the  whole  of  Christendom. 
Before  doing  so,  he  had  summoned  to  his  presence  St. 
Thomas  Aquinas,  the  Angelical  Doctor,  and  the  seraphic 
St.  Bonaventure,  in  order  to  enjoin  upon  them  to  com- 
pose an  Office  for  the  feast  he  was  about  to  institute. 

“ My  brothers,”  he  said  to  them,  “ it  is  my  wish  to 
establish  in  the  Church  a great  feast,  which  will  appeal 
to  the  hearts  of  all ; I desire  to  honor  the  Sacrament  of 
love  and  mercy.” 

He  then  disclosed  his  design  to  the  two  monks,  and 
commanded  them  at  once  to  set  about  the  accomplish- 
ment of  his  wishes.  The  humility  of  the  two  saints 
made  them  wonder  that  they  had  been  chosen  by  the 
Pontiff  for  this  work;  they  expostulated  with  him,  but 
in  vain;  a time  was  fixed  when  they  would  be  required 
to  submit  what  they  had  written  to  him  who  of  all 
others  was  most  capable  of  judging  of  it. 

On  the  appointed  day  Thomas  and  Bonaventure  pre- 
sented themselves  before  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  with 
downcast  eyes  and  mistrust  of  themselves  in  their  heart. 
Urban  IV  called  upon  St.  Thomas  to  read  first  what  he 
had  written.  Accordingly  the  saintly  monk  began  to 
read  the  antiphons  of  the  different  parts  of  the  Office, 
the  lessons,  the  responses,  all  of  which  were  taken  from 
Holy  Scripture,  and  perfectly  suitable  to  the  subject  of 
the  new  and  solemn  festival.  While  he  read  the  Se- 
quence, the  Pope  listened  in  silence;  Bonaventure’s 
eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  beneath  his  habit  the  rustling 
of  parchment  was  heard.  When  the  Angelic  Doctor 
had  finished  reading,  for  a few  moments  not  a sound 
was  heard.  Then  Urban  IV  said : “ It  is  your  turn 
now,  Brother  Bonaventure.”  The  monk  thus  ad- 
dressed fell  on  his  knees  before  the  Pope,  exclaiming: 
“ Holy  Father,  while  I listened  to  Brother  Thomas,  I 
seemed  to  hear  the  Holy  Spirit  speaking.  He  alone 


206 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


could  have  inspired  my  brother  monk  with  such  thoughts 
Therefore,  your  Holiness,  it  would  have  seemed  a 
sacrilege  on  my  part  to  have  produced  my  poor  per- 
formance. That  is  all  that  now  remains  of  it.”  So 
saying  he  pointed  to  the  floor,  which  was  strewn  with 
pieces  of  the  torn  parchment. 

Since  that  time  the  hymns  of  St.  Thomas  Aquinas 
are  recited  and  sung  in  the  Church  to  the  glory  of  Jesus 
in  the  Holy  Eucharist.  “ The  Office  of  Corpus  Christi 
composed  by  St.  Thomas,”  Dom  Gueranger  states, 
“ was  approved  by  Our  Lord  Himself.  In  the  church 
of  St.  Dominic  at  Orvieto,  the  crucifix  which  spoke  to 
voice  the  divine  approval  of  that  masterpiece  is  still 
venerated.” 

In  the  same  year  in  which  he  published  the  Bull  men- 
tioned above,  Urban  IV  died.  After  his  death,  the 
internecine  wars  which  disturbed  the  peace  of  Italy 
caused  the  newly-instituted  feast  to  be  forgotten;  it 
was  not  kept  anywhere  except  in  the  diocese  of  Liege. 
At  a later  period,  Pope  Clement  V,  presiding  over  the 
Council  of  Vienna,  ordered  that  the  Bull  issued  by 
Urban  IV  should  be  duly  carried  out,  and  from  that  time 
the  feast  of  Corpus  Christi  began  to  be  universally  cele- 
brated. John  XXIH  decreed  further  that  the  Feast  of 
Corpus  Christi  should  be  solemnized  with  an  octave, 
and  that  the  sacred  Host  should  be  carried  in  procession. 

The  institution  of  this  festival  may  be  said  to  have 
been  the  starting-point  of  a real  advance  in  the  cultus 
of  the  Holy  Eucharist.  Benediction  given  with  the 
Blessed  Sacrament,  Expositions,  the  Adoration  of  the 
Forty  Hours,  and  other  diurnal  or  nocturnal  adorations, 
were  its  happy  results.  Whence  comes  it  that  the  un- 
godly in  the  present  day  do  their  utmost  to  hinder  the 
growth  of  Eucharistic  worship  by  prohibiting  the  pro- 
cessions of  Corpus  Christi  in  so  many  parishes  of 
France  ? In  connection  with  this  subject  we  will  relate 
the  following  incident,  which  took  place  in  the  first  half 
of  the  sixteenth  century. 

For  many  years  Calvin  had  been  scattering  the  seeds 
of  his  detestable  heresy  broadcast  in  France.  His  par- 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


207 


tisans,  not  as  yet  very  numerous,  did  all  in  their  power 
to  add  to  their  ranks ; and  such  was  their  audacity,  that 
in  the  commencement  of  the  year  1535,  they  actually 
went  so  far  as  to  post  up  in  various  parts  of  Paris,  and 
even  on  the  very  walls  of  the  palace  of  the  Louvre, 
handbills  of  a most  impious  nature,  impugning  the 
dogma  of  the  real  presence.  The  king,  Francis  I,  on 
being  informed  of  this  proceeding,  published  a severe 
edict  against  these  heretics.  For  the  purpose  of  em- 
phasizing and  accentuating  his  protest,  he  requested 
the  bishop  to  order  a solemn  procession  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  to  be  held,  in  which  all  the  orders  and  guilds 
were  to  take  part.  In  accordance  with  his  expressed 
wish,  January  21st  was  the  day  fixed  for  this  memorable 
event. 

The  streets  through  which  the  procession  was  to  pass 
were  magnificently  decorated,  and  every  countenance 
beamed  with  gladness'.  All  the  guilds,  the  municipal 
authorities,  the  army,  the  confraternities  erected  in  the 
different  parishes  were  represented  in  the  procession 
by  men  wearing  their  distinctive  costumes  and  carrying 
a great  number  of  banners ; the  regular  and  the  secular 
clergy  followed  in  due  order.  Then  came  some  relics 
of  great  value,  the  spiritual  treasures  of  a city  which  the 
names  of  St.  Genevieve,  St.  Clothilde,  and  St.  Louis 
rendered  memorable. 

The  bishop  of  Paris  brought  up  the  rear  of  this  im- 
posing cortege,  carrying  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  The 
canopy  was  borne  by  the  three  sons  of  the  king,  and  the 
Duke  de  Venddme.  Five  cardinals,  a large  number  of 
bishops,  all  the  nobles  of  the  court,  the  princesses  of 
the  blood  royal,  and  the  monarch  himself,  followed  the 
King  of  kings  with  pious  devotion,  each  one  carrying  a 
lighted  candle.  In  this  order  the  procession  wended 
its  way  from  Saint-Germain  l’Auxerrois,  the  parish  of 
the  Louvre,  to  the  cathedral  of  Notre  Dame,  where 
there  was  only  room  for  the  king  and  the  principal  per- 
sonages to  assist  at  the  pontifical  Mass. 

At  the  close  of  the  ceremony,  Francis  I and  the 
members  of  his  court  repaired  to  the  episcopal  palace. 


208 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


Before  they  sat  down  to  table,  each  according  to  his 
rank,  the  king  rose,  and,  addressing  the  illustrious  com- 
pany assembled  there,  spoke  thus  to  them: 

“ Do  not  be  surprised,  my  lords  and  gentlemen,  that  I 
appear  before  you  to-day  otherwise  than  is  my  custom 
when  I attend  your  assemblies  to  confer  with  you  con- 
cerning the  welfare  of  the  State ; then  I always  remem- 
ber my  character  of  master  and  sovereign,  of  which  it 
befits  me  to  uphold  the  rights  and  maintain  the  dignity 
in  the  presence  of  my  subjects.  To-day,  however,  when 
the  interests  of  the  King  of  kings  are  in  question,  I only 
look  upon  myself  as  a subject  and  a servant,  sharing 
with  you  the  titles  and  participating  in  the  duties  of 
those  who  are  subject  to  and  dependent  on  God.  He 
Who  is  the  supreme  Ruler  of  kingdoms  and  empires 
has  always  vouchsafed  to  extend  His  protection  to  this 
realm,  consequently  it  is  all  the  more  binding  upon  us 
to  take  to  heart  what  has  recently  occurred.  Ungodly 
men,  not  satisfied  with  showing  disrespect  to  all  that 
God  delights  to  see  honored,  have  dared  to  attack  God 
Himself  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  that 
which  is  so  exceedingly  great  and  admirable  that  words 
can  not  express  the  extent  to  which  it  deserves  our 
veneration.  Some  have  been  found  among  us  so  de- 
praved as  to  utter  horrible  blasphemies  against  this 
divine  Sacrament;  it  would  be  a scandal  for  the  other 
nations,  and  a disgrace  to  this  capital  were  such  an 
offense  to  be  left  unpunished.  Therefore,  I wished 
you  all  to  see  that  it  was  not  committed  through  my 
fault,  nor  through  that  of  the  magistrates  who  govern 
under  my  authority;  hence,  I gave  orders  that  the 
solemn  procession  whereof  you  have  just  been  wit- 
nesses should  take  place,  in  order  that  all  might  unite 
to  implore  mercy  of  our  Redeemer.  It  is  also  my  desire 
that  the  guilty  persons  should  be  punished  with  such 
severity  as  to  frighten  those  who  might  be  disposed  to 
adopt  their  opinions.  This  public  act  on  my  part  ought 
to  console  and  encourage  Catholics,  strengthen  the 
weak  and  wavering,  and  lead  heretics  to  return  to  the 
bosom  of  the  true  Church,  to  whose  faith  they  see  me 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


209 


firmly  adhere,  and  with  me  all  the  magnates  of  my  realm. 
I pray  you,  my  lords  and  gentlemen,  and  I enjoin  upon 
all  my  subjects  in  general,  each  one  strictly  to  watch 
over  himself,  his  family,  and  his  children,  in  order  that 
they  may  not  fall  into  the  errors  condemned  by  the 
Church.” 

Happy  days  were  those  when  rulers  of  states  spoke 
in  such  language,  when,  far  from  refusing  to  allow  the 
Eucharistic  God  to  issue  forth  from  His  sanctuary,  they 
enhanced  the  glory  of  His  triumph  by  their  presence, 
at  the  same  time  always  remembering  that  they  were 
only  his  lieutenants,  whose  duty  it  was  to  defend  the 
Church  and  preserve  the  people  they  governed  from 
soul-destroying  errors. 

May  the  Divine  Sacrament  grant  that  times  such  as 
those  may  not  be  past  without  hope  of  return. 


Chapter  3 

WLbat  Sboulb  JSe  Done  In  Ovbev  to  Sanctify 
Bdgbt  tbe  ffeast  ot  Corpus  Gbdstt  anb  its 
Octave 

HE  feast  of  Corpus  Christi,  remarks  a pious  writer, 
v£/  is  the  only  day  which  is  consecrated  wholly  and 
solely  to  the  honor  of  the  adorable  Person  of  Jesus 
Christ  present  with  us  and  living  among  us  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist.  It  behooves  us,  therefore,  to  celebrate  this 
feast  and  its  octave  with  the  greatest  possible  devotion. 
To  achieve  this  purpose,  it  is  incumbent  on  us  to  pledge 
ourselves : 

1,  To  receive  holy  communion  on  the  feast;  2,  to 
assist  at  Mass  and  Benediction  during  the  octave; 
3,  to  take  part  in  the  processions;  4,  to  decorate  the 
altars  of  repose;  5,  to  adore  Our  Lord  exposed  upon 
our  altars. 

1.  To  receive  holy  communion.  Not  to  approach  the 
Holy  Table  on  the  feast  of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament 
would  be  tantamount  to  missing  the  feast  altogether. 
How  could  it  be  possible  to  celebrate  the  institution  of 


210 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


the  Holy  Eucharist  without  partaking  of  that  celestial 
food?  At  every  family  festival  there  is  a festival  re- 
past, however  simple  it  may  be,  at  which  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  family  meet.  The  child  who  was  content 
only  to  look  at  the  well-spread  table  without  sitting 
down  at  it  might  justly  consider  himself  to  have  taken 
no  part  in  the  family  meeting.  In  the  same  way,  the 
Christian  who  assists  at  the  services  on  the  day  and 
during  the  octave  of  Corpus  Christi  without  receiving 
holy  communion,  does  not  celebrate  the  festival 
worthily;  Our  Lord  invites  him  to  His  Eucharistic 
Banquet,  and  he  contents  himself  with  looking  on  at 
those  who  respond  to  the  divine  call.  It  is  the  wish  of 
the  Church  that  either  on  the  feast  itself  or  one  day  in 
the  octave,  the  faithful  should  approach  the  Holy  Table, 
since  for  the  Gospel  of  the  Sunday  following  this  feast 
she  has  chosen  the  parable  of  the  Great  Supper,  to 
which  the  guests  who  were  invited  refused  to  come. 
This  parable  has  already  been  explained  on  an  earlier 
page ; it  is  therefore  unnecessary  to  recur  to  it. 

2.  To  assist  at  Mass  and  Benediction  during  the 
octave.  It  is  not  enough  to  attend  the  solemn  services 
on  the  day  of  the  feast  itself;  one  ought  also  to  assist 
at  Mass  and  Benediction  as  often  as  possible  during 
the  octave.  In  former  times,  the  octave  of  Corpus 
Christi  was  observed  far  better  than  it  is  in  our  own 
day ; a great  many  of  the  faithful  gave  up  two  hours  in 
the  morning  to  hearing  Mass,  adoring  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament at  the  time  of  Exposition,  and  receiving  the 
benediction;  in  the  evening,  on  leaving  their  work,  they 
repaired  again  to  the  Church,  to  spend  some  time  again 
in  adoration  before  receiving  a second  benediction. 
Alas,  how  times  have  changed!  In  how  many  parishes 
the  priest,  to  his  great  regret,  is  unable  to  have  Exposi- 
tion of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  either  in  the  morning 
or  in  the  evening  during  this  holy  octave,  because  there 
are  too  few  persons  to  watch  before  it.  How  those  un- 
happy Christians  are  to  be  pitied  who  see  no  difference 
between  all  the  ordinary  days  of  the  year,  and  those  in 
which  Our  Lord  desires  to  manifest  His  great  love  to 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


21 1 


them  in  a special  manner.  St.  Paul  exclaimed:  “ If 
any  man  love  not  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be 
anathema.”  And  we  on  our  part  repeat:  Unhappy  those 
Christians  who  are  ungrateful  and  indifferent  toward 
Jesus  in  the  Holy  Eucharist!  Unhappy  those  parishes 
in  which  the  pious  observances  in  honor  of  the  Adorable 
Sacrament  of  the  Altar  are  relinquished! 

3.  To  take  part  in  the  processions.  Protestants  have 
decried  and  still  decry  processions  of  the  Most  Holy 
Sacrament.  The  sacred  Council  of  Trent  condemns 
those  heretics  who  deny  that  the  Holy  Eucharist  is  to 
be  venerated  with  special  festive  solemnity;  and  it 
authorizes  processions  of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  in 
these  words:  “ The  holy  Synod  declares  that  very 
piously  and  religiously  was  this  custom  introduced  into 
the  Church,  that  this  sublime  and  venerable  Sacrament 
be,  with  special  veneration  and  solemnity,  celebrated 
every  year  on  a certain  day,  and  that  a festival;  and 
that  it  be  borne  reverently  and  with  honor  in  proces- 
sions through  the  streets  and  public  places.  For  it  is 
most  just  that  there  be  certain  appointed  holy  days 
whereon  all  Christians  may,  with  a special  and  unusual 
demonstration,  testify  that  their  minds  are  grateful  and 
thankful  to  their  common  Lord  and  Redeemer  for  so 
ineffable  and  truly  divine  a benefit,  whereby  the  vic- 
tory and  triumph  of  His  death  are  represented.  And 
so  indeed  did  it  behoove  victorious  truth  to  celebrate 
a triumph  over  falsehood  and  heresy,  that  thus  her 
adversaries,  at  the  sight  of  so  much  splendor,  and  in 
the  midst  of  so  great  joy  of  the  universal  Church,  may 
either  ‘ pine  away  ’ (Ps.  cxi.  10),  weakened  and  broken, 
or,  touched  with  shame  and  confounded,  at  length  re- 
pent.” (Sess.  xiii,  ch.  5.) 

But  how  ought  one  to  take  part  in  the  procession  of 
the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  ? We  ought  to  join  in  it  with 
great  recollection,  both  exterior  and  interior ; we  ought 
from  the  first  to  recollect  that  we  are  part  of  the  escort 
of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  He  is  really  present 
in  the  Host  which  the  priest  or  the  bishop  is  carrying. 
During  the  procession  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  a de- 


212 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


vout  Christian  observes  custody  of  the  eyes,  and  does 
not  utter  a word  that  is  not  absolutely  necessary;  he 
walks  with  gravity,  with  devotion,  in  the  presence  of 
the  angels,  who,  unseen  by  man,  accompany  Jesus  in 
the  Eucharist  in  His  sacramental  triumph.  How  does 
he  occupy  his  thoughts  while  he  walks  in  the  procession  ? 
He  renews  his  faith  in  Our  Lord  present  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist,  he  adores  infinite  majesty  concealed  under 
the  veil  of  bread;  he  remembers  that  this  God  of  love 
is  frequently  grieved  by  offences  committed  against 
Him  in  the  very  streets,  the  public  places  through  which 
He  vouchsafes  to  pass,  and  makes  an  act  of  repara- 
tion; he  beseeches  Christ,  Who  on  earth  went  about 
doing  good  (pertransiit  benefaciendo ),  to  bless  all  those 
who  take  part  in  the  procession,  all  those  who  are  un- 
avoidably prevented  from  so  doing,  and  even  those  who 
are  absent  through  their  own  fault.  Finally,  he  gives 
thanks  to  Our  Lord  for  the  unspeakable  gift  of  the  Holy 
Eucharist.  Would  that  Christian  people  assisted  with 
greater  faith,  greater  devotion  at  this  procession!  To 
judge  by  the  demeanor  of  many,  one  could  scarcely 
imagine  that  they  believed  in  the  real  presence.  The 
reader  may  perhaps  be  inclined  to  think  that  we  exag- 
gerate; but  closer  observation  will  convince  him  that 
there  is  but  little  real  recollection  of  heart  in  the  ma- 
jority of  those  who  follow  in  the  procession  of  the 
Blessed  Sacrament. 

4.  To  decorate  the  altars  of  repose.  When  a royal 
or  otherwise  distinguished  personage  is  about  to  visit  a 
town,  the  streets  through  which  he  is  to  pass  are  deco- 
rated in  his  honor;  this  is  just  and  right.  What  ought 
Christian  people  to  do  for  the  King  of  kings,  when  He 
condescends  to  pass  through  our  streets  and  public 
places?  In  Catholic  cities,  in  Catholic  countries,  the 
streets  in  the  course  of  the  procession  are  gaily  adorned 
with  arches,  banners,  and  wreaths.  This  is  not  pos- 
sible in  Protestant  lands,  yet  if  we  were  animated  by 
true  faith  we  should  rejoice  to  contribute  to  erect  an 
altar,  to  render  it  more  worthy  to  be  the  temporary 
resting-place  of  our  divine  Lord.  Would  that  the  same 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


213 

zeal,  the  same  enthusiasm,  were  now  found  as  that  dis- 
played by  the  Jews  on  the  occasion  of  the  Saviour’s 
triumphal  entry  into  Jerusalem. 

5.  To  adore  Our  Lord  exposed  upon  our  altars. 
We  can  only  repeat  here  what  has  been  already  said 
when  speaking  of  the  Exposition  and  Benediction  of  the 
Blessed  Sacrament.  Meditate  upon  it  anew,  O Chris- 
tian ; ask  your  faith,  ask  your  affections ; they  will  tell 
you  what  is  due  from  you  to  Our  Lord,  to  Him  Who 
calls  you,  invites  you,  urges  you,  to  come  to  him: 
“ Venite  ad  me , omnes  qui  laboratis  et  onerati  estis , et 
ego  reficiam  vos .”  — “ Come  unto  Me,  all  you  that 
labor  and  are  burdened,  and  I will  refresh  you.” 


Chapter  4 

fTbe  aFeaat  of  tbe  Sacreb  Ibeart  of  3-eaus1 

BOIJR  hundred  years  had  already  elapsed  since  the 
institution  of  the  feast  of  Corpus  Christi;  and 
owing  to  this  solemnity,  the  cultus  of  the  Holy  Eucharist 
continued  to  be  a popular  devotion,  despite  the  efforts 
of  the  Protestant  heresy  to  overthrow  it.  Another 
error,  however,  began  to  make  its  fatal  influence  felt, 
the  Jansenist  heresy.  The  doctrine  openly  taught  by 
this  new  sect  was  that  God  lays  upon  man  commands 
which  are  beyond  his  power,  and  denies  him  the  grace 
indispensable  for  fulfilling  them.  In  addition  to  this, 
they  taught  that  Jesus  Christ  only  shed  His  blood  for 
the  elect.  To  assert  that  God  refuses  His  grace  to 
enable  man  to  accomplish  commands  which  are  above 
human  powers  is  tantamount  to  representing  God  as  a 
tyrant  who  condemns  to  eternal  punishment  those  who 

1 True  devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  is  the  wor- 
ship of  that  divine  Heart  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  Jesus 
Christ  Himself  to  Blessed  Margaret  Mary.  It  consists  in 
the  devout  observance  of  the  feast  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  in 
the  communion  and  act  of  reparation  on  the  first  Friday  of 
every  month,  and  in  the  Holy  Hour.  Of  these  we  shall  speak 
briefly  in  three  several  chapters 


214 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


are  impotent  to  do  what  He  enjoins  on  them.  It  also 
destroys  faith  in  the  merits  of  Christ’s  passion;  for  if, 
notwithstanding  the  redemption  of  the  world  by  our 
divine  Saviour,  God  denies  His  grace  not  only  to  sin- 
ners but  also  to  the  just,  if  He  imputes  to  them  as  sins 
the  faults  which  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  avoid 
without  the  assistance  of  grace,  what  trust  can  we  have 
in  the  infinite  merits  of  Our  Saviour?  Teaching  such 
as  this  would  have  the  effect  of  keeping  Christians  away 
from  the  two  sacraments  which  Christ  instituted  as  a 
remedy  for  human  weakness  — the  sacrament  of  Pen- 
ance and  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar.  It  was  about  the 
epoch  when  these  doctrines  were  disseminated  that 
Our  Lord  vouchsafed  to  reveal  the  infinite  riches  of  His 
Heart,  abounding  as  it  is  in  grace  and  truth.  He  did 
not  choose  a learned  theologian  for  the  recipient  of  His 
communications,  but  a lowly  daughter  of  the  Visitation 
at  Paray-le-Monial,  Blessed  Margaret  Mary. 

After  having  prepared  this  favored  soul  for  her  mis- 
sion by  special  graces,  Our  Lord  appeared  to  her  on 
the  27th  of  December,  1674.  “ It  was  on  St.  John  the 

Evangelist’s  day,”  she  said  to  Father  Rollin,  “ when  I 
had  already  received  from  my  divine  Saviour  a grace 
somewhat  resembling  that  which  was  bestowed  on  the 
beloved  disciple  on  the  evening  of  the  Last  Supper.  I 
beheld  the  divine  Heart  as  if  upon  a throne  of  fire  and 
flame,  emitting  rays  of  light  in  all  directions,  more 
brilliant  than  the  sun,  and  transparent  as  crystal.  The 
wound  it  received  upon  the  cross  was  distinctly  visible. 
Around  the  Sacred  Heart  was  a crown  of  thorns  and 
above  it  a cross.  My  divine  Master  made  known  to 
me  the  meaning  that  these  instruments  of  the  passion 
were  intended  to  convey  — that  the  intense  love  which 
He  had  for  mankind  had  been  the  source  of  all  His  suf- 
ferings; that  from  the  very  first  instant  of  His  incar- 
nation all  the  agony  that  He  was  to  endure  was  present 
to  His  mind,  and  that  from  that  earliest  moment  of  His 
life  on  earth  the  cross  was,  so  to  speak,  implanted  in 
His  heart;  that,  moreover,  from  that  time  forward  He 
accepted  all  the  pains  and  humiliations  which  His  sacred 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


215 


humanity  was  to  suffer  during  the  course  of  His  mortal 
life,  even  the  insults  and  outrages  to  which  His  love  for 
mankind  would  expose  Him  in  the  Adorable  Sacrament 
of  the  Altar  until  the  consummation  of  the  world. 

“ Furthermore,  He  made  known  to  me  that  the  ardent 
desire  He  entertained  to  be  perfectly  loved  by  men  had 
caused  Him  to  conceive  the  design  of  manifesting  His 
Heart  to  them;  and  in  these  later  times  to  make  on 
their  behalf  one  last  effort  of  His  love  by  placing  before 
them  an  object  and  a means  most  likely  to  win  their 
love,  their  true,  unchanging  love.  For  this  end  He 
would  open  to  them  all  the  treasures  of  charity,  of  mercy, 
of  grace,  of  sanctification,  and  of  salvation  which  His 
Heart  contained,  in  order  that  all  those  who  themselves 
rendered  Him  and  led  others  to  render  Him  all  the 
glory  and  honor  that  they  could,  might  be  abundantly 
enriched  by  the  divine  treasures  of  which  that  Heart 
is  the  plenteous  and  inexhaustible  source. 

“ Furthermore,  He  assured  me  that  He  took  a special 
delight  in  being  honored  under  the  figure  of  His  Heart 
of  flesh,  and  He  desired  a representation  of  it  to  be 
publicly  exposed,  for  the  purpose  of  touching  the  obdu- 
rate hearts  of  men,  promising  me  that  He  would  pour 
out  abundantly  on  all  who  venerated  it  the  treasures  of 
grace  with  which  that  Heart  is  filled.  ‘ Wherever,’  He 
added,  ‘ that  image  shall  be  exposed,  it  will  draw  down 
blessings  of  every  kind.’  But  what  caused  me  acute 
suffering,  pain  which  I felt  more  keenly  than  all  of  which 
I have  already  spoken,  was  when  that  loving  Heart  was 
shown  to  me  with  these  words:  ‘I  thirst  ardently  to 
be  honored  by  men  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament,  and 
there  is  scarce  any  one  who  strives  according  to  My 
desire  to  quench  My  thirst  by  making  Me  some  return 
of  love.’  ” 

This  signal  favor  was  only  the  preparation  for  one 
still  greater.  Our  Lord  was  about  Himself  to  enjoin 
the  institution  of  a feast  in  honor  of  His  Heart. 

We  will  again  quote  Blessed  Margaret  Mary’s  words: 

“ I was  kneeling  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament,” 
she  says,  “ one  day  in  the  octave  of  Corpus  Christi, 


216 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


(it  was  in  June,  1675),  when  I received  from  my  God 
exceeding  great  graces  of  His  love.  And  He,  seeing 
that  I was  animated  by  the  desire  to  make  some  return, 
to  give  love  for  love,  said  to  me : ‘ Thou  canst  make 
no  greater  return  than  by  doing  what  I have  asked  so 
many  times.’  Then,  showing  me  His  divine  Heart, 
He  continued:  ‘ Behold  this  Heart,  which  has  so  loved 
men  that  it  has  spared  nothing,  but  has  even  exhausted 
itself,  spent  itself  to  exhibit  the  love  it  bears  them; 
and  in  return  I receive  from  the  greater  number  only 
ingratitude,  by  reason  of  the  contempt,  irreverence, 
and  coldness  that  they  show  Me  in  this  Sacrament  of 
Love.  But  what  pains  me  more  deeply  yet  is,  that  I 
am  treated  thus  by  hearts  consecrated  to  My  service. 
For  this  reason  I ask  of  thee  that  the  first  Friday  after 
the  octave  of  Corpus  Christi  be  set  apart  as  a special 
feast  to  honor  My  Heart,  by  communicating  on  that 
day,  and  by  making  an  act  of  reparation,  to  repair  the 
indignities  it  sustained  while  it  was  exposed  on  the 
altars.  I also  promise  thee  that  My  Heart  shall  expand 
in  order  to  pour  forth  abundantly  the  influence  of  its 
divine  love  upon  all  who  shall  pay  it  this  honor  and 
cause  it  to  be  honored  by  others.’  ” 

“ But,  my  Lord,”  the  nun  said,  “ to  whom  art  Thou 
speaking  ? To  an  insignificant,  despicable  creature,  to 
a poor  sinner  whose  unworthiness  is  in  itself  enough 
to  hinder  the  fulfilment  of  Thy  design.  There  are  so 
many  generous  souls  who  might  accomplish  it.” 

“ Knowest  thou  not,”  the  divine  Saviour  replied, 
“ that  I make  use  of  the  feeblest  to  confound  the 
strongest,  and  that  it  is  generally  in  the  lowly  and  poor 
in  spirit  that  My  power  is  most  strikingly  manifested, 
in  order  that  they  may  attribute  nothing  to  them- 
selves.” 

“ Then  give  me,”  she  rejoined,  “ the  means  of  doing 
what  Thou  dost  command.” 

Whereupon  He  said:  “ Apply  to  My  servant,  Father 
de  la  Colombiere,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  and  tell  him 
from  Me  to  do  his  utmost  to  establish  this  devotion 
and  thereby  give  pleasure  to  My  Heart.  Bid  him  not 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


217 


be  discouraged  by  the  difficulties  which  he  will  en- 
counter, for  they  will  be  many;  let  him  know  that  he 
is  all-powerful  who  mistrusts,  himself  and  trusts  en- 
tirely in  Me.” 

Father  de  la  Colombiere,  a man  of  great  discernment, 
was  not  one  to  believe  at  once  whatever  was  told  him ; 
but  he  had  such  unmistakable  proof  of  the  sterling  vir- 
tue of  the  individual  who  spoke  to  him  that  he  had  no 
cause  to  fear  that  the  whole  matter  was  a delusion. 
He  therefore  immediately  applied  himself  to  the  work 
which  God  was  pleased  to  entrust  to  him.  With  the 
view  of  doing  it  perfectly  and  solidly,  he  began  with 
himself;  he  consecrated  himself  entirely  to  the  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus,  offering  to  Him  all  that  he  thought 
would  do  Him  honor  and  be  acceptable  to  Him.  This 
consecration  took  place  on  Friday,  June  21,  1675,  the 
day  after  the  octave  of  Corpus  Christi.  It  may  be  re- 
garded as  the  day  whereon  the  foundation-stone  of  the 
devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart  was  laid. 

It  would  take  too  long  were  we  to  relate  all  that 
Blessed  Margaret  Mary  had  to  suffer  from  those  around 
her  on  account  of  her  efforts  to  establish  the  devotion 
to  the  Sacred  Heart.  However,  after  ten  years  of 
severe  trial,  she  had  the  consolation,  on  June  21,  1686, 
the  Friday  following  the  octave  of  Corpus  Christi,  of 
seeing  the  whole  community  of  Paray-le-Monial  pros- 
trate in  prayer  before  an  image  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of 
Jesus.  In  that  same  year  the  foundation-stone  of  the 
first  chapel  erected  in  honor  of  the  Sacred  Heart  was 
laid  within  the  enclosure  of  the  Visitation  at  Paray. 
The  happiness  of  witnessing  its  dedication  on  Septem- 
ber 7,  1688,  was  granted  to  Blessed  Margaret  Mary; 
two  years  later  she  died  a holy  death,  on  October  17, 
1690. 

Yet,  as  Dom  Gueranger  remarks,  it  was  a far  cry 
from  these  humble  beginnings  to  the  establishment  of 
a duly  authorized  feast  and  the  celebration  of  it  through- 
out the  whole  Church.  The  Society  of  Jesus  carried  on 
the  work  of  propagating  the  devotion  to  the  Sacred 
Heart  with  undiminished  zeal ; but  the  powers  of  hell 


218 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


were  enraged  that  the  gospel  of  love  should  be  thus 
widely  preached,  and  the  Jansenists  took  alarm  at  this 
unlooked-for  manifestation  of  “ the  goodness  and  kind- 
ness of  God  our  Saviour,’’  the  object  of  which  was  to 
restore  confidence  to  the  souls  whom  they  had  inspired 
with  fear.  The  devotion  was  declared  to  be  new- 
fangled, scandalous,  idolatrous,  or  at  least  an  unseemly 
separation  of  the  sacred  members  of  Christ’s  body; 
and,  while  theological  dissertations  were  multiplied,  en- 
gravings of  an  indecorous  nature  were  published,  and 
jests  of  the  worst  possible  taste  were  circulated  to  cast 
derision  on  those  to  whom  the  sobriquet  of  cordicoles 
was  given. 

Now,  in  the  year  1720  the  cholera  raged  in  Marseilles, 
the  number  of  victims  amounting  to  no  less  than  a 
thousand  daily.  Heedless  of  the  terrible  contagion, 
Msgr.  Belzunce  assembled  the  few  members  of  his  clergy 
whom  the  plague  had  spared,  and,  summoning  the  faith- 
ful to  meet  on  the  public  place  now  called  by  the  name 
of  that  heroic  prelate,  he  solemnly  consecrated  his 
diocese  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus.  From  that  day 
forth  the  epidemic  abated.  This  fact  created  a sensa- 
tion, and  contributed  greatly  toward  increasing  the 
devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart. 

On  August  23,  1856,  Pius  IX  issued  a decree  render- 
ing it  obligatory  upon  the  universal  Church  from  that 
time  forward  to  celebrate  the  feast  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
as  a greater  double,  on  the  Friday  after  the  octave  of 
Corpus  Christi.  Finally,  on  June  28,  1889,  Pope  Leo 
XIII,  of  happy  memory,  was  pleased  to  raise  the  feast 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  to  be  kept  as  a double  of 
the  first  class  by  the  whole  Church. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  institution  of  the  feast, 
which  is  dear  to  all  pious  Christians.  Truly  devout 
souls  respond  to  the  wish  of  Our  Lord  by  receiving 
holy  communion  on  this  feast  and  by  making  an  act  of 
reparation  to  His  Sacred  Heart  for  the  indignities 
offered  to  it  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar. 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


219 


Chapter  5 

Gbe  jFitst  of  tbe  dbontb 

•3^  HE  second  pious  practice  which  Our  Lord  enjoined 
V*)  upon  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  was  the  sanctifica- 
tion of  the  first  Friday  of  every  month  by  receiving 
communion  and  making  an  act  of  reparation.  She 
gives  in  her  own  words  the  account  of  the  occasion 
whereon  He  gave  her  this  injunction : 

“ It  was  while  I was  present  before  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament at  a time  of  Exposition  that  I seemed  to  retire 
into  my  inmost  self,  with  more  than  ordinary  recollec- 
tion of  my  senses.  Jesus  Christ,  my  loving  Master, 
appeared  before  me  resplendent  with  glory,  His  five 
wounds  shining  with  the  radiance  of  the  noonday  sun. 
Rays  of  light  like  flames  issued  from  every  part  of  His 
sacred  humanity,  especially  from  His  adorable  breast, 
which  glowed  with  the  brightness  of  a furnace.  This 
He  opened,  disclosing  to  me  His  divine  Heart,  whence 
the  flames  seemed  to  proceed.  Thereupon  He  revealed 
to  me  the  unspeakable  marvels  of  His  pure  charity, 
and  to  what  an  excess  of  charity  His  love  for  men  had 
led  Him,  though  they  showed  Him  nothing  but  ingrati- 
tude. ‘ This/  He  said,  ‘ is  what  pains  Me  more  than 
all  that  I endured  in  my  passion.  If  they  did  but  return 
My  love  in  some  measure,  I should  count  as  little  all 
that  I have  done  for  them,  and  should  wish,  if  it  were 
possible,  to  suffer  more  for  their  sake.  But  all  that  I 
do  to  promote  their  welfare  only  meets  with  coldness 
and  repulsion.  Do  thou,  at  least,  do  Me  the  pleasure 
of  compensating,  as  far  as  is  within  thy  power,  for  their 
ingratitude.*  And  when  I expressed  my  sense  of  my 
own  feebleness,  He  replied:  ‘ Here  is  all  that  is 
needed  to  supply  thy  deficiencies.*  At  the  same  time 
His  divine  Heart  seemed  to  open,  and  out  of  it  came  a 
flame  so  fierce  that  I thought  I should  be  wholly  con- 
sumed by  it;  finding  myself  unable  any  longer  to  bear 
its  searching  heat,  I besought  Him  to  have  pity  on  my 
weakness.  * I will  be  thy  strength;  fear  not,*  He  said, 


220 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


* only  listen  to  My  voice  and  do  what  I require  of  thee 
for  the  accomplishment  of  My  designs.  . . . Thou 
shalt  receive  Me  in  holy  communion  as  often  as  obedi- 
ence may  allow.  . . . Thou  shalt  communicate  on  the 
first  Friday  of  every  month.,  ” 

In  a letter  to  Father  Rollin,  S.J.,  Blessed  Margaret 
Mary  acquainted  him  with  her  motive  for  going  to  com- 
munion on  the  first  Friday  of  every  month.  She  did 
so  by  command  of  her  divine  Master,  in  order  to  make 
what  reparation  she  could  for  the  insults  committed 
against  Him  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  during  the 
previous  month. 

Friday  has  always  had  a special  claim  on  the  heart  of 
the  true  Christian,  because  it  recalls  to  his  mind  the 
passion  and  death  of  our  Redeemer.  The  day  of  His 
death  was  anticipated  by  the  Heart  of  Jesus  with  fer- 
vent desire.  Speaking  of  His  passion,  Our  Lord  said: 
“ I have  a baptism  wherewith  I am  to  be  baptized;  and 
how  am  I straitened  until  it  be  accomplished.”  In  fact, 
on  that  sad  but  most  blessed  day,  we  were  reconciled 
to  God.  Mary  was  given  to  us  to  be  our  Mother,  and 
the  adorable  Heart  of  Jesus  was  opened  to  us  by  Lon- 
ginus’s lance.  Therefore,  the  Church  has  always  sanc- 
tified that  day,  making  it  a day  of  penance  in  memory  of 
the  passion  of  Christ. 

Furthermore,  it  was  on  a Friday  that  Our  Lord  was 
pleased  to  make  the  devotion  to  His  Sacred  Heart 
known  to  the  nun  of  Paray.  He  appointed  the  Friday 
after  the  octave  of  Corpus  Christi  as  the  day  whereon 
the  feast  of  the  Sacred  Heart  was  to  be  celebrated; 
and  the  first  Friday  of  every  month  was  to  be  sanc- 
tified in  honor  of  His  Heart  by  a fervent  communion 
and  a heartfelt  act  of  reparation. 

What,  then,  ought  fervent  Christians  to  do  on  the 
first  Friday  of  the  month  in  order  to  respond  to  the 
expressed  desire  of  the  Heart  of  Jesus?  They  ought 
to  consecrate  the  whole  of  that  day  to  the  honor  of  that 
Heart  so  infinitely  loving  and  so  infinitely  worthy  of 
our  love.  The  devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart  may  be 
summarized  in  two  words : Love  and  Reparation . Love 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


221 


for  the  Heart  of  Jesus,  Who  of  His  great  love  for  us  in- 
stituted the  Holy  Eucharist;  reparation  for  the  ingrati- 
tude,. the  scorn,  the  insults,  the  sacrileges  committed 
against  His  divine  Heart  in  the  Sacrament  of  His  love. 

Thus  all  good  Christians  would  do  well  to  make  the 
first  Friday  of  the  month  a day  of  love  and  expiation,  a 
day  of  prayer  and  penance.  They  ought  to  offer  their 
communion  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  return  for  His  in- 
finite charity.  This  communion  ought  to  be  followed 
by  an  act  of  reparation  and  an  act  of  consecration  to 
the  Sacred  Heart. 

It  would  also  be  well  to  make  the  Way  of  the  Cross, 
or  to  recite  five  Paters  and  Aves  in  honor  of  the  five 
wounds  of  Christ.  In  many  parishes,  religious  com- 
munities, and  schools,  there  is  Benediction  of  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  on  that  day.  Happy  the  parishes, 
the  communities,  and  the  scholastic  institutions  where 
all  thus  meet  before  the  tabernacle  to  adore  the  Heart 
of  Jesus ! Doubtless  the  blessed  influence  of  this  ador- 
able Heart  will  be  felt  in  the  souls  of  those  who  delight 
to  honor  it.  

Chapter  6 

Gbe  promises  of  our  Divine  IRebeemer  to  tbose 
wbo  Generate  anb  practise  Devotion  to  Ibis 
Sacreb  Ibeart1 

&fje  Promise  in  Particular 

i.  *-r*  WILL  give  them  all  the  graces  necessary  in  their 

JL,  state  of  life. 

2.  I will  establish  peace  in  their  houses. 

3.  I will  console  them  in  their  sorrows. 

4.  I will  be  their  sure  refuge  during  life,  and,  above 
all,  at  the  hour  of  death. 

5.  I will  pour  abundant  blessings  on  all  their  under- 
takings. 

6.  Sinners  shall  find  in  My  Heart  a source  and  ocean 
of  mercy. 

7.  Tepid  souls  shall  become  fervent. 

^rom  Thoughts  on  the  Religious  Life  (inserted  by  the 
Editor) . 


222 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


8.  Fervent  souls  shall  rise  rapidly  to  great  perfection. 

9.  I will  bless  every  place  where  a picture  of  My 
Heart  shall  be  exposed  and  venerated. 

10.  I will  give  priests  who  spread  this  devotion  a 
special  power  to  move  the  hardest  hearts. 

11.  All  those  who  propagate  this  devotion  shall 
have  their  names  written  in  My  Heart,  never  to  be 
effaced. 

There  is  a twelfth  promise.  It  is  found  in  a letter 
written  by  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  in  1688  to  Mother 
de  Saumaise . The  passage  referred  to  is  here 
given: 

12.  “ One  Friday,  during  holy  communion,  He  said 
to  His  unworthy  servant  — if  she  does  not  deceive  her- 
self — ‘ I promise  thee,  in  the  excessive  mercy  of  My 
Heart,  that  its  all-powerful  love  will  grant  to  all  who 
shall  communicate  on  the  first  Friday  of  the  month  for 
nine  consecutive  months  the  grace  of  final  repentance. 
They  shall  not  die  under  My  displeasure,  nor  without 
receiving  their  sacraments;  for  My  divine  Heart  shall 
be  their  secure  refuge  at  this  last  moment.’  ” 

This  twelfth  promise  has  been  the  occasion  from  time 
to  time  of  a great  deal  of  excitement  and  even  acri- 
monious controversy.  The  Rev.  Ernest  R.  Hull,  S.  J., 
in  a little  book  that  bears  the  title,  “ Devotion  to  the 
Sacred  Heart,”  explains  the  twelfth  promise  in  a com- 
prehensive and  luminous  manner,  and  answers  all  objec- 
tions and  difficulties  urged  against  it  most  satisfactorily. 
We  have  great  pleasure  in  recommending  this  treatise 
to  the  reader.  It  has  been  published  in  pamphlet  form 
by  the  Catholic  Truth  Society  of  Scotland.  Father  Hull 
fortifies  his  position  by  excerpts  from  other  writers,  a 
few  of  which  we  quote  in  part.  A French  writer  in  Le 
Regne  du  Coeur  de  Jesus  comments  as  follows  on  the 
promises  in  general  and  on  the  twelfth  promise  in  par- 
ticular: “ Our  Lord  did  not  make  these  promises  ex- 
cept in  favor  of  those  who  have  a serious  and  constant 
devotion  to  His  divine  Heart.  The  fulfilment  goes  on 
a par  with  the  devotion  and  will  be  more  certain  and 
abundant  in  proportion  as  the  conditions  laid  down  by 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


223 


Our  Lord  are  more  perfectly  accomplished.  By  these 
marvelous  promises  the  Heart  of  Jesus  intends  solely 
to  induce  us  to  return  to  Him  love  for  love,  in  order  that, 
fortified  by  this  love,  we  may  practise  in  their  sublime 
perfection  all  the  Christian  virtues,  even  those  which 
are  the  most  difficult.,, 

Referring  specially  to  the  twelfth  promise,  the  pious 
author  writes:  “ Let  us  begin  by  saying  that,  extraordi- 
nary as  this  promise  appears,  it  really  contains  nothing 
new.  A similar  one  is  attached  to  the  scapular  of 
Mount  Carmel.  Let  us  also  add  that  this  promise  is 
certain  as  regards  its  origin  and  its  effects.  It  was  cer- 
tainly made  to  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  . . . and  it  is 
certainly  accomplished  in  favor  of  those  who  fulfil  the 
conditions. 

“ It  is,  however,  necessary  to  understand  it  in  its 
true  sense  and  to  guard  against  all  false  interpretation. 
Our. Lord  does  not  say  that  those  who  accomplished 
the  conditions  demanded  are  dispensed  from  an  atten- 
tive vigilance  to  avoid  all  sin,  or  from  a courageous 
struggle  to  vanquish  temptations  and  to  fulfil  all  the 
commandments,  or  from  assiduously  employing  all  the 
means  which  belong  to  a true  Christian  life  — especially 
prayer  and  penance.  It  gives  us  this  assurance  only, 
viz.,  that  those  who  perform  these  nine  communions 
will  obtain  the  graces  necessary  for  the  exact  observ- 
ance of  the  commandments  and  the  evangelical  coun- 
sels, for  carrying  the  cross  all  the  days  of  their  life,  and 
for  persevering  unto  death  in  the  narrow  way  which 
leads  to  heaven.” 

An  English  writer  gives  the  following  explanation  in 
the  small  “ Handbook  of  the  Apostleship  of  Prayer,” 
which  is  circulated  in  England:  “That  these  words 
[of  the  twelfth  promise]  are  among  the  authentic  writ- 
ings of  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  is  certain.  It  is  also 
certain  that  they  were  neither  condemned  nor  censured 
by  the  Church  after  the  close  examination  to  which  all 
her  writings  were  submitted  in  the  process  of  her  beati- 
fication, and,  though  this  must  not  be  taken  as  imply- 
ing that  the  Church  authoritatively  declares  this  par- 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


224 

ticular  revelation  to  have  been  a fact,  still  it  implies 
that  there  is  nothing  in  it  opposed  to  Catholic  faith. 

“ While,  therefore,  we  should  not  expect  an  authori- 
tative declaration  on  the  genuineness  of  this  particular 
revelation,  we  may  recognize  that  the  Church  leaves  us 
free  to  accept  it,  provided  always  we  understand  it  in  a 
sense  which  nowise  contradicts  her  teaching.  For  the 
same  Lord  Whom  we  may  believe  to  have  made  this 
revelation  is  He  Who  teaches  us  always  through  the 
mouth  of  His  Church. 

“ Now  the  sixteenth  Canon  of  the  Council  of  Trent 
says:  ‘ If  any  one  saith  that  he  will  for  certain,  of  an 
absolute  and  infallible  certainty,  have  that  great  gift  of 
perseverance  unto  the  end  — unless  he  have  learned 
this  by  special  revelation;  let  him  be  anathema.* 
Those,  therefore,  who  believe  the  twelfth  promise  to 
have  been  really  made  must  take  care  to  understand  it 
in  such  a way  as  not  to  fall  under  the  condemnation  of 
this  Canon.  In  other  words,  their  confidence  in  the 
promise  must  not  be  turned  into  presumption;  they 
must  not  declare,  as  with  absolute  and  infallible  cer- 
tainty, that,  whatever  they  may  do  during  the  remainder 
of  their  fives,  after  making  the  Nine  Fridays,  they  will 
in  the  end  be  saved. 

“ There  are  two  phrases  in  the  twelfth  promise  re- 
corded by  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  which  call  for  a word 
of  explanation.  ‘ One  Friday,*  she  writes,  ‘ if  she  does 
not  deceive  herself .*  That  this  expression  does  not 
necessarily  imply  a doubt  in  her  mind  as  to  this  par- 
ticular revelation,  we  gather  from  her  use  of  it  in  re- 
cording other  revelations,  and  from  the  fact  that  her 
Superiors  had  explicitly  directed  her  to  speak  in  this 
way  when  she  referred  to  the  divine  favors  she  received. 
Again,  at  the  end  of  the  promise  are  the  words : * They 
shall  not  die  in  My  disfavor,  nor  without  receiving  their 
sacraments If  it  is  true  that  some  good  persons  who 
are  said  to  have  made  the  Nine  Fridays  have,  as  it  is 
alleged,  died  without  the  rites  of  the  Church,  the  ex- 
planation might  be  given  that  Our  Lord  blessed  their 
desire  of  the  sacraments  with  the  graces  which  would 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


225 


have  accompanied  actual  reception,  or  conferred  those 
graces  at  the  confession  and  communion  which  He 
foresaw  would  be  the  last. 

“ One  word  of  warning  ought  to  be  given  here.  Some 
anxious  souls  who  have  frequently  tried  to  complete  the 
Nine  Fridays  and  have  never  succeeded  allow  them- 
selves to  be  disturbed  by  the  thought  that  this  is  a bad 
sign,  and  that  they  will  not  persevere  in  grace  to  the 
end.  Such  anxiety  is  distinctly  superstitious,  and  is 
altogether  foreign  to  the  spirit  with  which  Our  Lord’s 
most  merciful  words  are  to  be  received.” 

Father  Hull  tells  us  how  the  “ devil’s  advocate  ” 
objected  to  the  twelfth  promise  and  what  reply  was 
made  to  him.  He  writes:  “ In  the  course  of  the  pro- 
cess of  beatification,  when  the  virtues  and  supernatural 
favors  of  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  came  under  con- 
sideration, the  promoter  of  the  faith  — the  official 
popularly  known  as  the  1 devil’s  advocate  ’ (we  use 
Father  Thurston’s  article  *)  — took  exception  to  the 
Great  Promise,  objecting  that  Margaret  Mary’s  visions 
several  times  took  the  form  of  an  assurance  of  predesti- 
nation given  to  living  people;  and  he  asks:  ‘ Can  one 
persuade  one’s  self  that  the  gift  of  final  perseverance, 
which  usually  lies  hidden  in  the  inscrutable  counsels 
of  God,  and  is  so  rarely  revealed,  should  so  easily  and 
frequently  be  revealed  to  that  one  person  ? Such  reve- 
lations,’ he  adds,  ‘ according  to  St.  Francis  de  Sales, 
are  to  be  suspected  of  their  very  nature.’ 

“ This  was  the  ‘ devil’s  ’ argument.  To  which  the 
promoter  of  the  cause  replied  that:  4 According  to  the 
correct  teaching  of  theologians,  from  St.  Thomas  down- 
ward, devotion  is  not  true  devotion  unless  it  finds  the 
soul  perfectly  obedient  to  God;  and  on  this  account,  in 
all  matters  of  this  sort,  the  tacit  condition  is  always 
supposed,  viz.y  that  the  commandments  of  God  (with- 
out which  no  one  can  enter  eternal  life)  are  diligently 
observed.’  He  then  refers  to  other  instances,  such  as 
‘ the  recommendations  of  the  Rosary  or  the  devotion 
to  Our  Lady  of  Mount  Carmel,  and  other  pious  prac- 
1 The  Month,  June,  1903. 


226 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


tices  from  which  those  devoted  to  them  derive  a 
strengthening  hope  of  heavenly  glory.’  He  then  con- 
cludes : ‘ This  is  the  only  meaning  of  the  promise  — 
“ that  God  will  concede  to  those  who  carry  out  those 
practices,  certain  special  graces  by  which  they  may  keep 
the  commandments  and  so  enter  into  life.”  ’ 

“ He  afterwards  goes  on  to  say  that  i the  devotion 
to  the  Sacred  Heart  is  only  a special  form  of  the  prac- 
tice of  the  love  of  God;  but  any  practice  of  the  love  of 
God  involves  keeping  of  the  commandments.  And, 
after  all,  this  certainty  of  attaining  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  is  not  promised  to  everybody,  but  only  to  those 
who  have  consecrated  themselves  in  an  especial  way 
to  the  honoring  of  the  divine  love.’ 

“ It  seems  that  this  answer  was  sufficient  to  satisfy 
the  objicient;  and  no  further  obstacle  to  the  process 
was  raised  on  this  score.” 

Most  pious  souls  interpret  the  twelfth  promise  in 
this  sense,  as  Father  Hull  says:  “ If  asked  to  state 
precisely  what  the  promise  does  mean,  we  believe  that, 
with  a little  help  from  the  questioner,  the  reply  would 
be  vague  but  at  the  same  time  unobjectionable.  1 It 
means,’  they  would  say,  ‘ that  by  the  performance  of 
the  Nine  Fridays  we  shall  receive  some  special  grace 
to  persevere  to  the  end,  to  be  sorry  for  our  sins,  and  to 
die  with  such  sacraments  as  may  be  necessary  at  our 
last  moments  — always  supposing  that  we  do  not 
abandon  our  general  good  purpose  of  living  well  and 
serving  God  faithfully.  It  is  an  encouragement  to  us, 
but  not  an  inexorably  mechanical  law.  It  fills  us  with 
hope  and  devout  assurance.  It  does  not  furnish 
grounds  for  recklessness  and  presumption.’  ” 

An  American  writer  1 comments  as  follows  on*  the 
twelfth  promise:  “ Certainty  as  to  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promise  depends  on  many  things  about  which  certainty 
can  not  be  had.  And  so  long  as  anything  remains  un- 
certain in  this  matter  of  salvation  it  is  mere  folly  to  run 
any  risk.  We  must  still  work  on  in  fear  and  trembling.” 

lSacerdos  in  the  American  Messenger  of  the  Sacred  Heart, 
February,  1898. 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


227 


And  again  on  page  xx:  “ Granting,  with  theologians, 
that  concerning  our  justification  we  may  have  some 
form  of  moral  certainty  which  frees  us  from  anxiety 
and  sets  the  mind  at  rest,  . . •.  still  this  so-called  moral 
certainty  of  our  being  in  the  state  of  grace  while  receiv- 
ing the  communions  of  the  Nine  Fridays  would  not 
suffice  to  take  away  all  anxiety  and  set  our  minds  at 
rest  about  our  salvation.  Why  ? Because  of  the 
doubts  that  overhang  the  very  meaning  of  the  promise. 
As  long  as  there  can  be  any  hesitancy  as  to  the  exact 
meaning  of  Our  Lord’s  words,  those  who  have  made 
the  Nine  Fridays,  and  who  feel,  as  it  were,  that  they 
have  made  them  worthily,  must  s ill  remember  that 
our  divine  Lord,  neither  in  this  revelation  nor  in  any 
other,  has  spoken  so  clearly  as  to  put  their  minds  com- 
pletely at  rest  concerning  their  eternal  salvation.  Far 
be  it  from  us  to  set  up  a claim  of  absolute  certainty  in 
regard  to  the  meaning  of  Our  Lord’s  words  to  Blessed 
Margaret  Mary.  Even  if  the  interpretation  that  we 
have  given  above  is  held  as  nothing  more  than  highly 
probable,  still  this  is  sufficient  to  make  us  practise  with 
the  greatest  alacrity  and  zeal  the  devotion  of  the  Nine 
Fridays.  A high  degree  of  probability  that  a certain 
priceless  treasure  lies  hidden  in  a field  which  I have 
bought  is  sufficient  motive  for  me  to  spare  no  pains  in 
searching  for  the  treasure.” 

Christ  Our  Lord  has  not  failed  to  fulfil  His  promises 
of  graces  and  blessings  during  life  and  at  the  hour  of 
death  to  those  who  seek  them  in  His  Sacred  Heart,  as 
is  attested  by  hundreds  of  thanksgivings  published 
month  after  month  by  thirty-one  periodicals  in  various 
languages.  Faith  in  Christ’s  promises  has  evidently 
been  richly  rewarded.  Jesus  is  faithful  to  those  who 
love  Him.  Would  that  His  Sacred  Heart  were  known 
and  loved  by  all  men! 


228 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


Cbapter  7 

Gbe  Ibolg  Ibour 

^r^HE  Holy  Hour  is  an  exercise  of  prayer,  either 
Yz)  mental  or  vocal,  in  union  with  the  prayer  of  Our 
Lord  in  the  Garden  of  Olives  on  Maundy  Thursday 
night.  Jesus  Christ  Himself  taught  this  devotion  to 
Blessed  Margaret  Mary  and  asked  her  to  practise  it 
every  week.  This  favored  nun  tells  us  in  her  writings 
that  one  day,  while  she  was  adoring  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament, the  Saviour  appeared  to  her  and  said:  “ In  the 
night  between  Thursday  and  Friday  each  week,  I will 
make  you  partaker  of  that  sorrow  unto  death  which  it 
was  My  will  to  suffer  in  the  Garden  of  Olives.  . . . 
To  join  with  Me  in  the  humble  prayer  which  I then 
offered  to  My  Father,  you  shall  rise  between  eleven 
o’clock  and  midnight;  you  shall  prostrate  yourself  with 
Me  for  one  hour , with  your  face  to  the  ground,  both  to 
appease  the  anger  of  God  by  imploring  mercy  for  sin- 
ners, and  to  sweeten  in  some  way  the  bitterness  I felt 
when  My  apostles  abandoned  Me,  being  unable  to 
watch  one  hour  with  Me.” 

The  following  sentences,  taken  from  the  writings  of 
Blessed  Margaret  Mary,  may  serve  as  a meditation  for 
those  pious  persons  who  practise  this  devotion. 

“ Whilst  my  whole  attention  was  fixed  upon  the  sole 
object  of  my  affections  in  the  Garden  of  Olives,  im- 
mersed as  He  then  was  in  an  ocean  of  agony  and  sad- 
ness out  of  charity  for  man,  I felt  strongly  urged  by  the 
desire  of  participating  in  His  anguish,  and  He  said  to 
me : ‘ In  this  spot  I suffered  more  interior  pain  than 
in  all  the  rest  of  My  passion  on  account  of  My  derelic- 
tion; I saw  Myself  forsaken  by  Heaven  and  by  earth, 
burdened  with  the  sins  of  all  humanity.  Thus  I ap- 
peared before  the  holiness  of  God,  Who,  not  heeding 
My  innocence,  bruised  Me  in  His  wrath,  making  Me 
drink  deeply  of  the  chalice  filled  with  the  gall  and 
bitterness  of  His  just  indignation,  as  if  He  had  for- 
gotten His  name  of  Father  in  order  to  sacrifice  Me  to 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


229 


His  just  anger.  It  is  impossible  for  any  created  being 
to  understand  the  intensity  of  what  I then  suffered; 
it  is  the  same  grief  and  pain  that  the  guilty  soul  experi- 
ences when  she  stands  before  the  tribunal  of  divine 
sanctity,  and  she  is  weighed  down,  bruised,  oppressed, 
overwhelmed  by  the  just  anger  of  her  Judge.” 

There  is  no  fixed  place  in  which  to  pass  the  Holy 
Hour,  but  it  is  advisable  to  spend  it  in  the  presence  of 
the  Blessed  Sacrament;  Our  Lord’s  agony  in  the  Gar- 
den of  Gethsemani  is  renewed  in  many  of  the  taber- 
nacles where  He  abides;  where  He  is  forsaken,  left 
alone.  That  is,  therefore,  the  most  fitting  place  for 
us  to  lament  over  such  ingratitude,  to  offer  Him  our 
love  and  endeavor  to  console  Him  Who  so  earnestly 
asks  of  us  these  proofs  of  our  affection. 

Nor  is  anything  prescribed  as  the  subject  of  our 
meditation  during  the  Holy  Hour,  but  it  is  well  to 
dwell  in  thought  as  much  as  possible  on  the  awful 
anguish  of  Jesus  in  the  Garden  of  Olives.  Our  Lord 
seems  to  signify  this  by  what  He  said  to  Blessed  Mar- 
garet Mary.  In  order  to  facilitate  this  pious  exercise 
to  men  of  good  will,  let  us  hear  what  Fr.  de  Ligny  says 
on  this  point: 

44  After  this,  His  last  discourse  to  His  apostles,  Jesus, 
Who  had  now  nothing  more  left  to  do  in  this  world  but 
to  suffer  and  to  die, 4 went  forth  with  His  disciples  over 
the  brook  Cedron.’  He  went,  according  to  His  custom, 
to  the  Mount  of  Olives, 4 and  His  disciples  also  followed 
Him.’  4 There  was  a garden  into  which  He  entered 
with  His  disciples.  Judas  also  who  betrayed  Him 
knew  the  place,  because  Jesus  had  often  resorted 
thither  with  His  disciples.’  Far  from  avoiding  the 
traitor,  Jesus  went  to  meet  him,  and,  as  the  moment  of 
conflict  drew  near,  4 He  said  to  His  disciples : Sit  you 
here  while  I go  yonder  and  pray.  Then  leaving  the 
others,  He  took  with  Him  Peter  and  James  and  John, 
and  He  began  to  fear  and  to  be  heavy.  Then  He  said 
to  them:  My  soul  is  sorrowful  even  unto  death;  stay 
you  here  and  watch  with  Me.  And  going  a little  further 
He  was  withdrawn  away  from  them,  a stone’s  cast,  and 


230 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


kneeling  down  He  prayed:  My  Father,  if  Thou  wilt, 
remove  this  chalice  from  Me;  but  yet  not  My  will,  but 
Thine  be  done.  And  being  in  an  agony  He  prayed  the 
longer:  Father,  all  things  are  possible  to  Thee,  re- 
move this  chalice  from  Me.  But  yet  not  what  I will, 
but  what  Thou  wilt.  And  His  sweat  became  as  drops 
of  blood,  trickling  down  upon  the  ground.’ 

“ Then  there  appeared  to  Him  an  angel  from  heaven, 
strengthening  Him.  And  when  He  rose  up  from  prayer 
and  was  come  to  His  disciples,  He  found  them  sleeping 
for  sorrow.  And  He  saith  to  Peter:  Simon,  sleepest 
thou?  Couldst  thou  not  watch  one  hour  with  Me? 
The  spirit  indeed  is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak.  And 
going  away  again  the  second  time  He  prayed,  saying 
the  same  words:  My  Father,  if  this  chalice  may  not 
pass  away,  but  I must  drink  it,  Thy  will  be  done.  And 
He  cometh  again  and  findeth  them  sleeping,  for  their 
eyes  were  heavy,  and  they  knew  not  what  to  answer 
Him.  And  leaving  them  He  went  again ; and  He  prayed 
the  third  time,  saying  the  selfsame  words.  Then  He 
cometh  to  His  disciples,  and  saith  to  them:  Sleep  ye 
now  and  take  your  rest;  behold  the  hour  is  at  hand 
and  the  Son  of  man  shall  be  betrayed  into  the  hands 
of  sinners.  Rise,  let  us  go : behold  he  is  at  hand  that 
will  betray  Me. 

“ While  he  was  yet  speaking,  cometh  Judas  Iscariot, 
one  of  the  twelve:  and  with  him  a great  multitude 
with  swords  and  staves,  from  the  chief  priests,  and  the 
scribes  and  the  ancients.  And  he  that  betrayed  Him 
had  given  them  a sign,  saying : Whomsoever  I shall  kiss, 
that  is  He ; lay  hold  on  Him  and  lead  Him  away  care- 
fully. And  when  he  was  come,  immediately  going  up 
to  Jesus,  he  saith : Hail,  Rabbi ; and  he  kissed  Him.” 

The  Lamb  of  God  did  not  refuse  to  receive  the  kiss 
which  pained  Him  more  keenly  than  all  the  cruel  treat- 
ment He  suffered  in  His  passion;  and,  instead  of  treat- 
ing the  perfidious  wretch  as  he  deserved,  He  sought 
rather  to  save  than  to  condemn  him.  Jesus  said  to 
him:  “ Friend,  whereto  art  thou  come?  Judas,  dost 
thou  betray  the  Son  of  man  with  a kiss  ? ” 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


231 


The  devout  soul  will  find  no  difficulty  in  applying  the 
account  given  by  the  Evangelists  to  Our  Lord’s  pro- 
longed agony  in  the  Eucharist.  In  this  adorable  Sac- 
rament Jesus  prays  for  us,  atones  for  us,  and  grieves 
over  the  iniquity  of  the  world. 

Alas,  how  few  are  the  Christians  who  unite  their 
prayers  to  those  of  Jesus  in  the  sacred  Host!  Ho^ 
much  He  is  left  alone  in  the  tabernacle!  Yet  He  is 
there  for  the  sake  of  Christians.  If  they  knew  how  to 
profit  by  His  presence  among  them,  they  would  save 
their  souls.  A great  number  are  lost  because  they  per- 
sist in  holding  aloof  from  Him.  From  time  to  time 
Our  Lord  under  the  veil  of  the  Eucharist  incites  His 
disciples  to  go  out  into  the  streets  and  public  places  to 
seek  souls  and  bring  them  to  Him.  Unhappily  too  often 
their  exertions  are  fruitless,  the  great  majority  of  Chris- 
tians are  spiritually  asleep;  they  do  not  hear,  or  do 
not  heed  the  charitable  appeal  of  the  preacher.  The 
wicked  are  ever  on  the  alert ; not  only  do  they  lose  their 
own  souls  through  their  perversity,  but  they  seek  to 
lead  others  astray,  and  for  this  they  sometimes  impose 
privations  on  themselves.  What  do  we  do  in  opposition 
to  their  satanic  zeal?  We  suffer  ourselves  to  fall 
asleep. 

O Jesus,  from  henceforth  we  will  endeavor  to  afford 
Thee  consolation  in  Thy  sorrow  by  visiting  Thee,  by 
uniting  our  prayers  to  Thine,  by  offering  Thee  to  Thy 
heavenly  Father  in  expiation  of  the  sins  of  the  world. 
We  would  fain  make  compensation  to  Thee,  by  faithful 
attendance  on  Thee  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  by  kneel- 
ing at  Thy  side,  by  kneeling  before  the  altar  where 
Thou  art  as  in  another  Garden  of  Olives,  thus  to  recall 
to  our  minds  all  that  our  redemption  cost  Thee,  all  that 
Thy  Heart  in  Thine  agony  suffered  for  us  on  account  of 
our  sins. 

Part  Two  of  the  present  volume  contains  further 
particulars  regarding  the  Holy  Hour  and  the  manner 
of  practising  this  devotion. 


232 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


Chapter  8 

Gbe  apostlesbfp  of  draper  tbc  ©erpetuatton 
of  tbe  THIlorh  of  tbe  Uncarnation1 

OUR  Lord  one  day  said  to  the  Jews  these  remarkable 
words:  “ I came  down  from  heaven  to  do  the  will 
of  Him  that  sent  Me.  Now  this  is  the  will  of  the  Father 
Who  sent  Me;  that  of  all  that  He  hath  given  Me,  I 
should  lose  nothing,  . . . that  every  one  who  seeth  the 
Son,  and  believeth  in  Him,  may  have  life  everlasting.” 
(John  vi.  38-40.)  In  these  words  Our  Lord  distinctly 
makes  known  the  purpose  of  His  incarnation.  He 
came  down  from  heaven,  He  says,  to  do  His  Father’s 
will,  and  then  He  goes  on  to  state  in  what  that  all-holy 
will  consists.  He  willed  that  of  all  that  He  had  given 
to  His  only  Son  for  His  heritage  — all  that  vast  hu- 
manity, all  the  nations  and  peoples  and  tribes  of  the 
earth  — He  should  lose  nothing ; and  further,  that 
every  one  who  sees  the  Son  — the  image  of  the  Father 
— and  believes  in  Him,  may  be  saved.  To  bring  this 
about,  the  Son  and  Our  Lord  came  upon  earth,  toiled, 
suffered,  and  died. 

But,  His  passible  life  being  ended,  Jesus,  our  Head, 
having  ascended  into  heaven,  willed  to  leave  on  earth 
members  who  should  perpetuate  His  work  until  the 
end  of  time,  and  by  the  same  means  that  He  had  Him- 
self employed  when  dwelling  among  us.  We  know  how 
He  performed  His  work;  how  He  accomplished  His 
Father’s  will.  The  greater  part  of  His  thirty-three 
years  was  spent  in  prayer.  From  the  first  moment  of 
His  incarnation  He  prayed.  During  His  infancy  and 
childhood,  when,  having  submitted  Himself  to  the  ordi- 
nary conditions  of  that  early  stage  of  life,  He  could 
perform  no  external  work,  He  prayed.  The  eighteen 
years  of  His  hidden  life  at  Nazareth,  dating  from  the 
time  when  He  was  found  in  the  temple  conversing  with 
the  doctors,  were  passed  in  the  hidden  apostolate  of 

^rom  The  Voice  of  the  Sacred  Heart  (inserted  by  the 
Editor). 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


233 

prayer,  and  it  was  by  this  way  only  that,  at  that  period 
of  His  life,  He  advanced  His  “ Father’s  business,” 
which,  while  yet  a child  in  years,  He  had  declared  was 
to  Him  an  imperative  preoccupation.  “ I must  be  about 
My  Father’s  business.”  (Luke  ii.  49.)  When  He 
passed  to  His  public  life,  we  find  Him  again  retiring 
into  the  mountains  and  spending  His  nights  in  secret 
converse  with  His  Father  after  His  days  of  toil,  and  at 
length  when  all  was  finished  and  the  hour  of  His 
supreme  sacrifice  had  arrived,  He  still  prayed  upon  His 
cross. 

And,  various  as  were  its  forms,  innumerable  as  were 
its  objects,  if  we  regard  them  in  detail,  the  one  great 
unending  prayer  of  Jesus  which  summed  up  all  within 
itself  was  this:  that  of  all  that  His  Father  had  given 
Him  for  an  inheritance  He  might  lose  nothing.  Such  is 
the  very  essence  of  that  prayer,  so  universal  in  its 
extent,  so  apostolic  in  its  character,  so  ardent  in  its 
zeal,  that  ascended  without  ceasing  from  the  Sacred 
Heart  to  the  bosom  of  the  Father. 

To  the  end  expressed  in  that  prayer,  likewise  tended 
all  that  Our  Lord  wrought  on  earth.  This  was  the 
object  of  His  labors  and  fatigues,  — this  the  aim  of  all 
His  preaching  and  miracles  this  the  cause  of  His  life- 
long sacrifice,  the  consummation  of  which  was  upon 
Calvary. 

Now,  when  we  speak  of  union  with  the  Heart  of 
Jesus,  we  mean  union  with  that  Heart  in  its  prayers, 
in  its  toils,  in  its  sacrifice  for  the  glory  of  Him  Whom 
Our  Lord  specially  delighted  to  make  known  to  us  as 
our  common  Father,  “ My  Father  and  your  Father.” 
(John  xx.  17.)  This  union  of  our  hearts  with  the  Heart 
of  Jesus  is  peculiarly  precious  to  Him,  not  only  because 
it  is  a testimony  of  our  love  for  Himself  personally,  but 
likewise  because  it  glorifies  the  Father  by  carrying  on, 
as  it  were,  the  great  work  of  the  Incarnation,  the  end 
of  which  is,  as  has  been  already  seen  by  Our  Lord’s 
own  words,  the  accomplishment  of  His  Father’s  will. 
“ This  is  the  will  of  My  Father,  that  of  all  He  hath 
given  Me,  I should  lose  nothing.” 


234 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


As,  then,  our  apostleship  has  for  its  main  object  to 
draw  to  us  that  union  and  to  perfect  us  therein,  it  may 
be  said  with  truth  that  it  is  a most  real  perpetuation  of 
the  work  of  the  Incarnation,  inasmuch  as  the  members 
continue  that  work  which  their  Head  had  commenced. 
And  this  explains  what  Our  Lord  said  to  His  disciples, 
that  it  is  “ one  that  soweth  and  another  that  reapeth.” 
He  was  the  divine  Sower,  but  He  expired,  sighing  out 
the  expression  of  His  yet  unsatisfied  thirst  for  the 
gathering  in  of  His  harvest.  We  have  entered  into 
His  labors,  to  continue  His  work,  then  to  reap  with 
Him  the  harvest  of  souls,  that  so  both  the  Sower  and 
the  reapers  may  rejoice  together  at  the  great  harvest- 
home  above  in  the  kingdom  of  the  Father.  (John  iv. 
36-38.) 

Assuredly,  if  we  reflected  a little  upon  the  honor  and 
the  privilege  that  Our  Lord  has  conferred  upon  us  in 
associating  us  to  so  noble  a work,  we  should  hardly 
waste  our  thoughts  and  time  and  energies  — as  it  is 
to  be  feared  too  many  among  us  do  upon  the  trifles  that 
surround  us;  we  should  not,  if  we  were  penetrated 
with  the  thought  of  that  great  mission  to  which  each 
one  of  us,  in  his  measure,  is  called,  suffer  our  hearts 
and  minds  to  be  deterred  by  them  from  their  legitimate 
preoccupation  with  the  interests  of  God’s  glory.  We 
should  rather  be  induced  to  make  of  all  that  came  in 
our  way  a matter  of  self-sacrifice  in  union  with  the  sac- 
rifice of  Our  Lord,  for  the  intention  for  which  He  be- 
came incarnate,  toiled,  and  died. 

As  friends  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  and  associates  of  its 
holy  League  of  Prayer,  this  should  be  our  one  great 
aim  and  dominant  solicitude:  that  of  all  that  His 
Father  has  given  Him  for  His  inheritance,  Our  Lord 
shall  lose  nothing  — not  one  of  the  souls,  if  that  might 
be,  for  whom  He  shed  His  blood;  that  none  of  His 
priests  should  ever  fall  from  the  sublime  perfection  of 
their  state,  nor  any  of  those  consecrated  to  Him,  in 
whatever  way  it  may  be,  degenerate  from  their  voca- 
tion; that  the  nations  already  possessing  the  true  faith 
may  never  lose  it,  and  that  those  as  yet  sitting  in  the 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


235 

darkness  of  heathendom  may  be  evangelized,  so  that 
no  tribe  or  people  or  nation  may  be  excluded  from  the 
royal  inheritance  of  the  Son  of  God,  but  that  all  may 
be  brought  to  the  knowledge  and  love  of  His  holy 
name. 

This  is  our  work  which  should  ever  be  “ before  us,” 
that  is  to  say,  before  the  “ illuminated  eyes  of  the 
heart  ” (Eph.  i.  18),  thus  continually  extending  our  hori- 
zon and  animating  us  to  greater  devotedness  to  the 
cause  of  God,  to  the  interests  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  is, 
indeed,  to  enter  into  and  fulfil  the  dearest  wish  of  the 
Heart  of  Jesus,  Who  desires  to  find  co-operators  upon 
earth  in  the  great  work  for  which  He  lived  and  died; 
souls  having  one  mind  with  Him  (1  Cor.  ii.  16),  and 
regarding  all  else  as  merely  subservient  to  that  of 
hastening  the  coming  of  the  kingdom.  To  such  as 
these,  “ Adveniat  regnum  tuum  ” will  be  the  expres- 
sion of  their  entire  lives.  The  substance  of  those 
words  and  the  thirst  for  their  accomplishment  will 
mingle  with  all  their  thoughts  and  accompany  them  in 
all  their  actions,  lending  to  them  an  apostolic  intention 
and  a supernatural  energy. 

This  is  why  we  have  said  that  the  apostleship  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  is  a perpetuation  of  the  work  of  the  In- 
carnation, and,  being  so,  to  share  in  that  apostleship  is 
one  of  the  noblest  aspirations,  the  most  solid  happiness, 
and  the  most  sanctifying  privilege  that  we  can  possess 
here  below. 


Chapter  9 

Pious  practices  in  Ibonor  of  tbe  ©acres  Ibeart 
of  Jesus 

IN  his  excellent  work,  “The  Devotion  to  the  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus,”  Father  Noldin,  S.  J.,  says : “ Who- 
soever desires  to  practise  the  devotion  to  the  Heart  of 
Jesus  fruitfully  and  profitably  must  fix  upon  some 
prayers  to  be  recited  either  daily,  weekly,  or  it  may  be 
once  a month  or  once  a year.  A general  resolution  to 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


236 

be  devout  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus  is  of  little  use,  unless 
at  the  same  time  the  manner  in  which  the  devotion 
shall  be  practised  is  definitely  determined  upon.  In 
doing  this  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  the  golden  maxim 
of  St.  John  Berchmans:  ‘ Non  multum , sed  constanter.' 
Let  only  a few  practices  be  chosen  which  can  be  per- 
formed with  recollection,  without  haste;  but  what  is 
once  begun  must  not  lightly  be  given  up.  It  is  not  the 
number  and  length  of  our  petitions  which  render  them 
acceptable  to  God,  but  the  fervor,  the  fidelity,  the  per- 
severance of  the  suppliant. 

“ Finally,  too  much  stress  can  not  be  laid  on  the  fact 
that  all  devotional  exercises  are  not  alike  suited  for  all 
persons.  Any  particular  one  is  therefore  not  to  be  con- 
demned and  rejected  because  it  does  not  commend 
itself  to  or  suit  the  feelings  of  one  individual.  Just  as 
all  musical  instruments  are  not  timed  to  the  same  key, 
nor  do  all  the  strings  of  the  same  instrument  give  out 
one  and  the  self-same  sound,  so  all  Christians  do  not 
pray  in  the  same  manner;  nay,  the  same  soul  is  wont 
to  frame  his  petitions  in  different  forms  at  different 
times.  And  only  when  each  prays  and  sings  in  his 
own  way  does  the  voice  of  prayer  ascend  from  the 
Church  of  God  to  the  throne  of  the  Most  High  as  the 
melodious  notes  of  the  organ,  or  a part-song  of  exqui- 
site harmony.”  Some  of  the  devotional  exercises  in 
use  among  the  adorers  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus 
are  mentioned  by  Father  Noldin  in  the  same  book  as 
follows : 

1.  They  join  the  League  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  and 
daily  make  the  Morning  Offering  of  the  Apostleship  of 
Prayer,  thus:  “ O my  God,  I offer  Thee  my  prayers, 
works  and  sufferings  this  day  in  union  with  the  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus,  for  the  intentions  for  which  He  pleads 
and  offers  Himself  in  holy  Mass,  in  thanksgiving  for 
Thy  favors,  in  reparation  for  our  offenses,  and  for  the 
petitions  of  all  our  associates:  especially  this  month 
for  the  general  intention  recommended  by  the  Holy 
Father.” 

2.  They  regard  pictures  and  images  of  the  Sacred 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION  237 

Heart  of  Jesus  with  devout  reverence.  In  regard  to 
these  pictures  Blessed  Margaret  Mary  writes:  “ Our 
divine  Lord  assured  me  that  it  was  especially  pleasing 
to  Him  to  be  adored  under  the  symbol  of  the  natural 
heart,  and  that  He  desired  representations  of  it  to  be 
publicly  exposed,  in  order,  He  added,  thereby  to  touch 
the  insensible  hearts  of  men.  He  also  promised  me 
to  pour  into  the  hearts  of  all  who  should  venerate  such 
pictures  the  superabundance  of  His  gifts  and  graces, 
and  to  grant  to  all  places  where  they  should  be  exposed 
for  special  veneration  all  manner  of  rich  blessings.” 
Hence  it  has  become  customary  among  those  who  have 
a devotion  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus  to  put  up  in  their 
houses,  their  own  rooms,  or  even  on  their  desk  or 
work-table,  a picture  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  to  which 
they  pay  devout  reverence. 

3.  They  keep  the  feast  of  the  Sacred  Heart  with 
fervor  and  devotion. 

4.  They  practise  special  devotions  on  the  first  Friday 
of  every  month.  The  first  Friday  of  the  month  is  ob- 
served in  a special  manner  because  Our  Lord  enjoined 
upon  Blessed  Margaret  to  receive  holy  communion  on 
the  first  Friday  of  every  month  in  order  to  repair  the 
irreverences  committed  during  the  month  against  the 
Blessed  Sacrament,  and  also  because  He  indicated  to 
her  certain  devotional  exercises  to  be  practised  on  the 
first  Friday  of  the  month  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
the  grace  of  final  perseverance. 

5.  They  offer  some  prayer  or  pious  exercise  ( e.g.y 
an  act  of  consecration)  daily , in  honor  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus. 

6.  They  are  assiduous  in  paying  frequent  visits  to 
the  Blessed  Sacrament,  and  often  approach  the  Holy 
Table.  Our  Lord  laid  the  injunction  upon  Blessed 
Margaret  to  receive  holy  communion  as  frequently  as 
she  was  permitted  to  do  so.  It  is  an  excellent  plan 
always  to  go  to  communion  with  some  definite  inten- 
tion, for  some  special  object;  for  instance,  in  thanks- 
giving for  benefits  received  from  God;  to  obtain  some 
particular  grace  for  ourselves  or  for  others ; to  increase 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


238 

in  the  knowledge  of  self  and  the  love  of  God;  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  will  of  God,  Who  desires  that  we  should 
receive  holy  communion;  or  in  order  to  acquire  a 
greater  likeness  to  Our  Lord.  In  any  case,  it  is  only 
right,  whether  one  joins  the  Association  of  the  Com- 
munion of  Reparation  or  no,  to  habituate  one’s  self  to 
offer  one’s  communion  in  reparation  and  satisfaction  for 
the  offenses  committed  against  Our  Lord  in  the  Sacra- 
ment of  His  love,  and  to  do  this  in  union  with  the 
thousands  of  communions  received  and  offered  daily 
with  this  intention  by  the  members  of  the  aforesaid 
association. 

7.  They  place  all  their  trust  in  the  Heart  of  Jesus 
and  consequently  have  recourse  to  it  in  all  their  neces- 
sities. In  all  sufferings,  vexations,  and  difficulties 
they  fly  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus.  It  is  the  Heart  of  Him 
Who  said:  “ Come  to  Me,  all  you  that  labor  and  are 
burdened,  and  I will  refresh  you.”  (Matt.  xi.  28.) 

8.  They  raise  their  heart  to  Jesus  by  frequent  ejacu- 
latory prayers.  They  do  not  wait  until  temptations  and 
adversities  compel  them  to  turn  to  Him;  they  hold 
frequent  intercourse  with  Him  in  the  midst  of  their 
work  and  occupations.  Now  it  is  an  act  of  love  and 
thanksgiving  which  they  breathe  forth ; now  an  ascrip- 
tion of  praise  or  act  of  adoration,  now  an  act  of  petition 
or  propitiation,  by  which  they  venerate  the  Sacred 
Heart ; and  these  tokens  of  reverence  and  affection  are 
redoubled  on  days  and  in  seasons  that  are  specially 
dedicated  to  the  honor  of  that  Heart.  They  keep  a 
picture  of  it  before  them  in  order  to  be  more  often  re- 
minded of  it,  and  incited  to  pray  that  they  may  be 
kindled  by  the  flames  which  consume  that  Heart,  and 
illumined  by  the  sight  of  the  cross  and  wound  and 
thorns ; stimulated  to  renewed  zeal,  inspired  with  fresh 
courage  to  sacrifice  all  and  bear  all  for  Christ’s  sake, 
Who  bore  so  much  and  sacrificed  so  much  for  them. 

9.  They  often  send  up  heartfelt  entreaties  for  par- 
don, in  order  to  make  some  amends  to  Our  Lord  for 
the  irreverences  and  impieties  committed  against  Him. 
Not  one  of  all  our  pious  exercises  is  so  pleasing  to  Our 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


239 


Lord  and  so  essential  a part  of  our  devotion  as  the  work 
of  propitiation  and  reparation.  The  worshipers  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  are,  therefore,  not  satisfied  with  avoiding 
everything  that  may  grieve  it;  on  the  contrary,  they 
strive  by  propitiation  and  reparation  to  afford  it  conso- 
lation and  joy. 

10.  They  make  it  their  earnest  endeavor  to  live,  to 
labor,  to  pray,  to  suffer  in  constant  union  with  the 
Heart  of  Jesus.  For  inasmuch  as  nothing  is  so  well- 
pleasing to  God  as  the  Heart  of  His  Son,  nothing  is 
more  acceptable  in  His  eyes  than  the  soul  which  is 
united  to  that  Heart:  “ He  hath  graced  us  in  His  be- 
loved Son.”  (Eph.  i.  6.)  Therefore  they  are  wont  to 
offer  all  their  actions,  prayers,  and  sufferings  with  the 
same  intention  with  which  Christ  Himself  prayed, 
labored,  and  suffered  during  His  life  on  earth.  This 
was  Blessed  Margaret’s  constant  practice ; she  learned 
it  from  Our  Lord  Himself,  and  the  Church  instructs  her 
priests  to  pray  with  the  same  intention:  “ Domine , in 
unione  illius  divinae  intentionis , qua  ipse  in  terris  laudes 
Deo  persolvisti , has  tibi  horas  persolvo .” 

11.  They  maintain  an  intimate  intercourse  with 
Jesus  Christ.  Familiar  intercourse  with  Our  Lord  is 
the  choicest,  the  sweetest  fruit  of  the  devotion  to  His 
Sacred  Heart;  for  this  all  the  saints  longed,  this  was 
the  object  of  their  aspirations.  It  consists  in  consult- 
ing Him  about  all  our  affairs,  both  those  that  relate  to 
time  and  to  eternity.  In  Him,  as  in  the  heart  of  a true 
friend,  we  shall  find  sympathy,  solace,  and  succor. 

12.  They  strive  to  make  their  heart  more  and  more 
like  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus;  they  strive  to  become  purer, 
more  mortified,  more  humble,  more  gentle,  more 
patient,  more  obedient,  more  forbearing,  more  yielding, 
more  recollected,  more  zealous,  to  cultivate  likeness  to 
Our  Lord  in  all  their  thoughts,  affections,  actions,  in  a 
word,  to  form  their  heart  after  the  pattern,  the  example 
of  His  divine  Heart.  In  order  to  attain  this  end,  it  is 
essentially  necessary  to  acquaint  ourselves  more  closely, 
more  accurately  with  the  Heart  of  Our  Lord  and  Master. 
In  Holy  Scripture  He  manifests  Himself  to  us  by  the 


240 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


words  He  spoke,  the  actions  He  performed;  and  by 
meditation  we  penetrate  more  deeply  into  His  Heart 
and  acquire  a knowledge  of  the  most  lofty  dispositions, 
of  the  various  virtues,  in  their  highest  perfection: 
“ Learn  of  Me,  for  I am  meek  and  humble  of  Heart.,, 

13.  They  consecrate  themselves  wholly  and  irrev- 
ocably to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus.  We  know  that, 
in  accordance  with  Our  Lord’s  command,  Blessed 
Margaret  was  for  many  years  in  the  habit  of  writing 
letters  to  priests,  Religious,  and  the  laity  for  the  pur- 
pose of  commending  to  them  and  spreading  the  devo- 
tion she  had  so  much  at  heart.  That  to  which  she  gives 
the  greatest  prominence,  and  of  which  she  speaks  most 
emphatically  in  her  letters,  is  consecration  and  oblation 
of  one’s  self  to  the  Sacred  Heart.  “ The  Redeemer,” 
she  writes,  “ generally  requires  complete  self-abandon- 
ment from  His  friends.”  She  puts  forward  different 
arguments  to  induce  those  whom  she  addresses  to  make 
this  act  of  oblation.  “ It  would  give  Our  Lord  singular 
pleasure,”  she  writes  on  one  occasion,  “ if  you  fre- 
quently renewed  the  entire  sacrifice  of  yourself  to  Him, 
and  practised  it  faithfully.” 

Two  things  chiefly  are  comprised  in  the  act  of  con- 
secration. First,  complete  forgetfulness  of  self,  z.e., 
giving  up  entirely  our  own  interests,  profit,  advantage, 
our  own  glory,  and  our  own  ease.  It  is  the  penalty  of 
original  sin,  from  which  we  all  suffer  more  or  less,  that 
we  are  by  far  too  self-occupied,  too  self-seeking,  that 
we  think  too  highly  of  ourselves.  Blessed  Margaret 
Mary  remarks,  in  regard  to  the  mortification  of  sen- 
suality and  pride : “ If  Christ  is  to  live  in  our  heart  by 
His  grace  and  His  love,  we  must  die  to  self,  to  our 
concupiscences,  our  passions,  our  self-indulgences  — 
to  all,  in  short,  that  belongs  to  our  unmortified  nature.” 

In  the  second  place,  this  consecration  consists  in 
living  entirely  for  Our  Lord,  i.e.,  striving  to  love  Him, 
to  glorify  and  magnify  Him  to  the  utmost  of  our  power 
and  in  as  far  as  our  circumstances  permit.  Conse- 
quently, abandoning  all  care  of  self  to  Him  Who  cares 
for  us,  we  must  think  only  how  to  do  our  duty,  our  daily 


PRACTICES  OF  DEVOTION 


241 


work  as  well  as  possible  to  the  glory  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus,  and  to  promote  the  interests  of  that 
Heart  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge  and  ability.  Thus, 
when  about  to  undertake  anything,  we  ought  first  to 
implore  counsel  and  assistance  from  Our  Lord  to  en- 
able us  to  accomplish  it  to  His  glory  alone ; and  when 
our  task  is  finished  we  must  give  Him  thanks  with  all 
our  Heart,  whether  it  be  crowned  with  success  or  result 
in  failure.  Such  is  the  plan  of  action,  such  the  frame 
of  mind  of  one  who  has  dedicated  himself  entirely  to 
the  heart  of  Jesus,  and  desires  to  live  only  for  God. 
“ It  appears  to  me,”  writes  Blessed  Margaret,  “ that 
this  single  intention  will  render  our  actions  more  meri- 
torious and  more  acceptable  in  God’s  sight  than  all 
that  may  be  done  without  that  intention.” 

“ If  you  are  faithful  in  doing  the  will  of  God  in  this 
life,  your  own  will  shall  be  accomplished  throughout 
eternity,”  are  the  words  of  Blessed  Margaret  Mary. 
“ The  Heart  of  Jesus  is  at  least  worth  yours.  Leave 
all,  and  you  will  find  all  in  the  Sacred  Heart.  How 
sweet  it  will  be  to  die  after  having  had  a constant  devo- 
tion to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  — of  Him  Who  will 
be  our  Judge.” 


- 

■ 

■ 

' 


part  1111 

PRAYERS  AND  DEVOTIONS  FOR  VARIOUS  OCCA- 
SIONS, IN  PARTICULAR  FOR  VISITS  TO  THE 
BLESSED  SACRAMENT,  THE  HOLY  HOUR,  AND 
THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


flfcorntng  praters 


IN  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

VT LMIGHTY  and  eternal  God,  I adore  Thee,  and 
U I thank  Thee  for  all  the  benefits  which  Thou,  in 
Thy  infinite  goodness  and  mercy,  hast  conferred  upon 
me.  I thank  Thee  especially  for  having  preserved  and 
protected  me  this  night. 

I believe  in  Thee,  because  Thou  art  Truth  itself. 

I hope  in  Thee,  because  Thou  art  merciful  and  faith- 
ful to  Thy  promises. 

I love  Thee,  because  Thou  art  all  good,  and  for  Thy 
sake  I love  my  neighbor  as  myself. 


OMY  God,  I offer  Thee  all  my  prayers,  works,  and 
sufferings  of  this  day  in  union  with  the  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus,  for  the  intentions  for  which  He  pleads 
and  offers  Himself  in  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  in 
thanksgiving  for  Thy  favors,  in  reparation  for  my 
offences,  and  in  humble  supplication  for  my  temporal 
and  eternal  welfare,  for  the  wants  of  our  holy  Mother 
the  Church,  and  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  souls  in  pur- 
gatory. 

I have  the  intention  to  gain  all  the  indulgences  that 
are  attached  to  the  prayers  I shall  say  and  the  good 
works  I shall  perform  this  day. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  I believe,  Glory. 


O SWEETEST  Heart  of  Jesus!  I implore 

That  I may  ever  love  Thee  more  and  more. 
300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Nov.  26,  1876. 

All  for  Thee,  most  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  26,  1908. 


/T\Y  lady  and  my  Mother,  remember  I am  thine; 

protect  and  defend  me  as  thy  property  and 
possession. 

40  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  August  5,  1851. 


245 


MORNING  PRAYERS 


246 

C>TT.  JOSEPH,  model  and  patron  of  those  who  love 
.^5  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  pray  for  us! 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Dec.  19,  1891. 

iJ  NGEL  of  God,  my  guardian  dear, 

To  whom  His  love  commits  me  here, 

Ever  this  day  be  at  my  side, 

To  light  and  guard,  to  rule  and  guide.  Amen. 

100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VI,  Oct.  2,  1795. 

"vpLL  ye  holy  angels  and  saints  of  God,  and  es- 
pecially  you,  my  dear  patron  saint,  pray  for  me ! 
May  Our  Lord  bless  us  and  preserve  us  from  all  evil, 
and  bring  us  to  life  everlasting. 

May  the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed,  through  the 
mercy  of  God,  rest  in  peace.  Amen. 

IN  the  name  of  the  Father,  ^ and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 


Morning  ®ffering  of  tlje  <Epostlcsfyip  of  ifkager 

O JESUS,  through  the  immaculate  heart  of  Mary, 
I offer  Thee  my  prayers,  works,  and  sufferings  of 
this  day  for  all  the  intentions  of  Thy  Sacred  Heart,  in 
union  with  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass  throughout 
the  world,  in  reparation  for  my  sins,  for  the  intentions 
of  all  our  Associates,  and  in  particular  for  the  general 
intention  recommended  this  month. 


Morning  Salutation  a nto  Offering  to  tije  Blesseti  Sacrament 

O SWEETEST  Jesus,  divine  friend,  Thou  hast  been 
watching  and  waiting  patiently  and  lovingly  in 
Thy  lonely  tabernacle  all  through  the  night  for  this 
moment,  which  finds  me  once  more  at  Thy  blessed  feet, 
that  I may  be  consoled  and  strengthened  by  Thy  pres- 
ence. I have  come,  dear  Lord,  to  adore  Thee  in  the 
Sacrament  of  Thy  love,  with  a heart  full  of  thanks  to 
Thee  for  abiding  with  us  “ all  days.”  I thank  Thee,  in 
particular,  for  having  protected  and  preserved  me  dur- 


MORNING  PRAYERS 


247 


ing  the  past  night,  and  for  having  given  me  another 
day  to  labor  for  Thy  greater  honor  and  glory,  for  the 
good  of  my  neighbor,  and  for  my  own  sanctification 
and  salvation.  In  reparation  for  all  the  sufferings  Thy 
Sacred  Heart  endures  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  I offer 
Thee  the  adoration  and  praise  of  all  the  just  on  earth, 
of  all  the  angels  and  saints  in  heaven,  and  especially  of 
Thy  blessed  Mother.  I offer  Thee  my  heart,  my  soul, 
my  body,  and  all  that  I have.  My  whole  being  shall 
be  consecrated  to  Thy  service.  Deign  to  make  me 
obedient,  modest,  humble,  patient,  kind,  and  magnani- 
mous in  my  conduct  toward  others;  draw  me  to  Thee 
in  ever  closer  union  with  Thy  loving,  Sacred  Heart; 
make  me  resigned  to  Thy  holy  will,  and  grant  that  I 
may  be  found  worthy  one  day  of  that  reward  which  Thou 
hast  promised  to  those  who  love  and  serve  Thee  faith- 
fully on  earth.  Give  me  Thy  grace,  that  I may  become 
a saint.  Oh,  stay  with  me,  dearest  Jesus,  my  good 
Lord  and  master,  till  the  evening  of  my  life.  Pardon 
me  all  my  sins;  I am  very  sorry  that  I have  offended 
Thee,  because  Thou  art  infinitely  good;  I love  Thee 
truly  with  my  whole  heart;  ’let  me  not  be  separated 
from  Thee,  and  when  death  comes  say  to  me:  “ Enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord”  Amen. 

“ O Sacrament  most  holy!  O Sacrament  divine! 

All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  moment 
Thine.” 


Evening  praters 

IN  the  name  of  the  Father,  ►}«  and  of  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

OMY  God,  I believe  that  Thou  art  here  present;  I 
adore  Thee,  and  I love  Thee  with  all  my  heart. 

I return  Thee  thanks  for  all  the  benefits  which  I have 
ever  received  from  Thee,  and  particularly  this  day. 
Give  me  light,  O my  God,  to  see  what  sins  I have  com- 
mitted this  day,  and  grant  me  grace  to  be  truly  sorry 
for  them. 

[Here  examine  your  conscience;  then  make  an  act  of 
contrition .] 

OMY  God,  I beg  pardon  from  my  heart  for  all  my 
offences  against  Thee ; I am  truly  sorry  that  I have 
sinned,  because  Thou  art  infinitely  good  and  sin  dis- 
pleases Thee.  I am  firmly  resolved,  with  the  help  of 
Thy  grace,  never  more  to  offend  Thee,  and  to  carefully 
avoid  the  occasions  of  sin. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory. 

3ESUS,  Mary,  Joseph,  I give  you  my  heart  and  my 
soul. 

Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph,  assist  me  in  my  last  agony. 
Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph,  may  I breathe  forth  my  soul  in 
peace  with  you.  Amen. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VII,  Aug.  26,  1814. 

INTO  Thy  hands,  O Lord,  I commend  my  spirit. 
Holy  Mary,  be  a mother  to  me. 

OMY  good  angel,  whom  God  has  appointed  to  be 
my  guardian,  watch  over  me  during  this  night. 
All  ye  angels  and  saints  of  God,  pray  for  me. 

May  Our  Lord  bless  us  and  preserve  us  from  all  evil 
and  bring  us  to  life  everlasting. 

May  the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed,  through  the 
mercy  of  God,  rest  in  peace.  Amen. 

248 


EVENING  PRAYERS 


249 


Ntgtyt  iPrager,  bg  &t.  ^Upfjcmsus  ILtguort 

fVESUS  CHRIST,  my  God,  I adore  Thee  and  I thank 
Thee  for  all  the  graces  Thou  hast  bestowed  on  me 
this  day.  I offer  Thee  my  sleep  and  every  moment  of 
this  night,  and  I beseech  Thee  to  keep  me  free  from 
sin.  Therefore  I place  myself  in  Thy  most  sacred  side 
and  under  the  protecting  mantle  of  our  Lady,  my  Mother. 
May  Thy  holy  angels  help  me  and  keep  me  in  peace, 
and  may  Thy  blessing  be  upon  me. 

60  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  June  30,  1893. 


Nigfjt  Salutation  anti  ^rager  to  Jfesus  in  tfje  ^Tabernacle 

O DIVINE  Jesus,  lonely  to-night  in  so  many  taber- 
nacles, without  visitor  or  worshiper,  I offer  Thee 
my  heart.  Oh,  may  its  very  beating  be  a prayer  of  love 
to  Thee!  Thou  art  ever  watching  under  the  sacra- 
mental veils.  In  Thy  love  Thou  never  sleepest,  and 
Thou  art  never  weary  of  Thy  vigils  for  sinners.  O 
loving  Jesus,  O lonely  Jesus,  may  my  heart  be  a 
lamp,  the  light  of  which  shall  bum  and  beam  for  Thee 
alone!  Watch,  Sacramental  Sentinel,  watch,  for  the 
weary  world,  for  the  erring  soul,  and  for  Thy  poor  child! 

“ O Sacrament  most  holy!  O Sacrament  divine! 

All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  moment 
Thine.” 

GTfje  <Engelus 


NGELUS  Domini 
nuntiavit  Mariae. 

R.  Et  concepit  de  Spiritu 
Sancto. 

Ave,  Maria,  etc. 

V . Ecce  ancilla  Domini. 

R.  Fiat  mihi  secundum 
verbum  tuum. 

Ave,  Maria,  etc. 


HE  angel  of  the  Lord 
declared  unto  Mary. 

R.  And  she  conceived 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Hail,  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Behold  the  hand- 
maid of  the  Lord. 

R.  Be  it  done  unto  me 
according  to  thy  word. 

Hail,  Mary,  etc. 


EVENING  PRAYERS 


250 

V.  ET  VERBUM  CARO 
FACTUM  EST. 

R.  Et  habitavit  in  nobis. 

Ave,  Maria,  etc. 

Oremus 

RATIAM  tuam,  quae- 
sumus,  Domine,men- 
tibus  nostris  infunde:  ut 
qui,  angelo  nuntiante, 
Christi  Filii  tui  incama- 
tionem  cognovimus,  per 
passionem  ejus  et  crucem 
ad  resurrectionis  gloriam 
perducamur.  Per  eumdem 
Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum. R.  Amen. 

100  days,  each  time.  — Le< 


V.  AND  THE  WORD  WAS 
MADE  FLESH. 

R.  And  dwelt  among  us. 

Hail,  Mary,  etc. 

Let  us  pray 
OUR  forth,  we  be- 
seech Thee,  O Lord! 
Thy  grace  into  our  hearts, 
that  we,  unto  whom  the  In- 
carnation of  Christ,  Thy 
Son,  was  made  known  by 
the  message  of  an  angel, 
may,  by  His  passion  and 
cross,  be  brought  to  the 
glory  of  the  Resurrection, 
through  the  same  Christ 
our  Lord.  R.  Amen. 

XIII,  May  20,  1896. 


Wgt  Begin  a Coelt 

During  Eastertide,  from  Holy  Saturday  till  Trinity  Sun- 


day, instead  of  the  Angelus 
standing. 

EGINA  coeli,  laetare, 
Alleluia. 

Quia  quern  meruisti  por- 
tare,  Alleluia. 

Resurrexit,  sicut  dixit,  Al- 
leluia. 

Ora  pro  nobis  Deum,  Al- 
leluia. 

V.  Gaude  et  laetare, 
Virgo  Maria,  Alleluia. 

R.  Quia  surrexit  Domi- 
nus  vere,  Alleluia. 


the  Regina  Coeli  is  recited 

QUEEN  of  heaven,  re- 
joice, Alleluia. 

For  He  Whom  thou  didst 
deserve  to  bear,  Alleluia. 
Hath  risen  as  He  said, 
Alleluia. 

Pray  for  us  to  God,  Alle- 
luia. 

V.  Rejoice  and  be  glad, 
O Virgin  Mary,  Alleluia. 

R.  Because  Our  Lord  is 
truly  risen,  Alleluia. 


EVENING  PRAYERS 


251 


Oremus 

EUS,  qui  per  resur- 
rectionem  Filii  tui, 
Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi, 
mundum  laBtificare  digna- 
tus  es,  praesta,  quaesumus, 
ut  per  ejus  genitricem  Vir- 
ginem  Mariam  perpetuae 
capiamus  gaudia  vitae : Per 
eumdem  Christum  Domi- 
num  nostrum. 


R.  Amen. 


Let  us  pray 

OG0D,  Who  by  the 
resurrection  of  Thy 
Son,  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
hast  vouchsafed  to  make 
glad  the  whole  world,  grant, 
we  beseech  Thee,  that 
through  the  intercession 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  His 
Mother,  we  may  attain  the 
joys  of  eternal  life. 
Through  the  same  Christ 
our  Lord. 

R.  Amen. 


100  days,  each  time.  — Leo  XIII,  May  20,  1896. 


Ube  ©rbinars  of  tbe  flDass 

Mitb  tbe  proper  parts  from  tbe  Motive  dfcaee 
of  tbe  /Ibost  Ibolp  Sacrament 

Pragers  at  t!je  Joot  of  tfje  ^tltar 

IN  THE  name  of  the  Father,  ^ and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

P.  I will  go  in  to  the  altar  of  God. 

R.  To  God,  Who  giveth  joy  to  my  youth. 

Psalm  \2 

To  be  omitted  in  Passion-tide  and  in  Masses  for  the 
Dead 

3UDGE  me,  O God,  and  distinguish  my  cause 
from  the  nation  that  is  not  holy;  deliver  me 
from  the  unjust  and  deceitful  man. 

R . For  Thou  art,  God,  my  strength:  why  hast 
Thou  cast  me  off?  and  why  do  I go  sorrowful 
whilst  the  enemy  afflicteth  me? 

P.  Send  forth  Thy  light  and  Thy  truth:  they 
have  conducted  me  and  brought  me  unto  Thy 
holy  hill,  and  into  Thy  tabernacles. 

R.  And  I will  go  in  to  the  altar  of  God;  to  God 
Who  giveth  joy  to  my  youth. 

P.  To  Thee,  O God,  my  God,  I will  give  praise 
upon  the  harp : why  art  thou  sad,  O my  soul,  and 
why  dost  thou  disquiet  me  ? 

R.  Hope  in  God,  for  I will  still  give  praise  to 
Him,  the  salvation  of  my  countenance  and  my 
God. 

P.  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and 
to  the  Holy  Ghost. 


252 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS  253 

R . As  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever 
shall  be,  world  without  end.  Amen. 

P . I will  go  in  to  the  altar  of  God. 

R.  To  God,  Who  giveth  joy  to  my  youth. 

P . Our  help  is  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

R.  Who  made  heaven  and  earth. 

Humbly  bowing  down , the  priest  says: 

2H)e  Confitecr 

I CONFESS  to  almighty  God,  to  blessed  Mary 
ever  virgin,  to  blessed  Michael  the  archangel, 
to  blessed  John  the  Baptist,  to  the  holy  apostles 
Peter  and  Paul,  to  all  the  saints,  and  to  you, 
brethren,  that  I have  sinned  exceedingly  in 
thought,  word,  and  deed:  through  my  fault, 
through  my  fault,  through  my  most  grievous  fault. 
Therefore  I beseech  the  blessed  Mary  ever  vir- 
gin, blessed  Michael  the  archangel,  blessed  John 
the  Baptist,  the  holy  apostles  Peter  and  Paul,  all 
the  saints,  and  you,  brethren,  to  pray  to  the  Lord 
our  God  for  me. 

R.  May  almighty  God  have  mercy  on  thee  and, 
having  forgiven  thee  thy  sins,  bring  thee  to  life 
everlasting. 

P.  Amen. 

The  acolytes , bowing  downy  repeat  the  words  of  the 
Confiteor. 

P.  May  almighty  God  have  mercy  on  you  and, 
having  forgiven  you  your  sins,  bring  you  to  life 
everlasting. 

R.  Amen. 

P.  May  the  almighty  and  merciful  God  grant 
us  pardon,  absolution,  and  remission  of  our  sins. 
R.  Amen. 


254  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 

Again  bowing  down , the  priest  goes  on: 

P.  Thou  wilt  turn  again,  O God,  and  quicken 
us. 

R.  And  Thy  people  shall  rejoice  in  Thee. 

P . Show  us,  O Lord,  Thy  mercy. 

R.  And  grant  us  Thy  salvation. 

P.  O Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

R.  And  let  my  cry  come  unto  Thee. 

P . The  Lord  be  with  you. 

R.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

P.  Let  us  pray. 


Going  up  to  the  altar , the  priest  prays  silently: 

>^AKE  away  from  us  our  iniquities,  we  beseech 
VzJ  Thee,  O Lord;  that,  being  made  pure  in 
heart,  we  may  be  worthy  to  enter  into  the  Holy 
of  holies.  Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

He  bows  down  over  the  altar , which  he  kisses , saying: 

BESEECH  Thee,  O Lord,  by  the  merits  of 
VxAi  those  of  Thy  saints  whose  relics  are  here, 
and  of  all  the  saints,  that  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe 
to  pardon  me  all  my  sins.  Amen. 


Signing  himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross9  the  priest 
says: 

&fj e Entrott 

Psalm  80 

if  T*E  FED  them  with  the  fat  of  wheat,  alleluia; 

and  filled  them  with  honey  out  of  the  rock, 
alleluia,  alleluia,  alleluia.  Ps . ibid.  Rejoice  to 
God  our  helper;  sing  aloud  to  the  God  of  Jacob. 
V.  Glory. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


255 


2Ef je  3&grie  lEletson 

P.  'T"'  ORD,  have  mercy  on  us. 

,-L^  r . Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 
P.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

P.  Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

P.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

P.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 


Wqz  (gloria 
LORIA  in  excelsis 
Deo.  Et  in  terra 
pax  hominibus  bonae  vo- 
luntatis. Laudamus  te. 
Benedicimus  te.  Adora- 
mus  te.  Glorificamus 
te.  Gratias  agimus  tibi 
propter  magnam  gloriam 
tuam.  Domine  Deus, 
rex  ccelestis,  Deus  Pater 
omnipotens,  Domine  Fili 
unigenite  Jesu  Christe. 
Domine  Deus,  Agnus 
Dei,  Filius  Patris.  Qui 
tollis  peccata  mundi, 
miserere  nobis.  Qui 
tollis  peccata  mundi, 
suscipe  deprecationem 
nostram.  Qui  sedes  ad 
dexteram  Patris,  mise- 
rere nobis.  Quoniam 
tu  solus  sanctus.  Tu 
solus  Dominus.  Tu 


tn  !£icel0t0 

LORY  be  to  God  on 
high,  and  on  earth 
peace  to  men  of  good 
will.  We  praise  Thee; 
we  bless  Thee;  we 
adore  Thee;  we  glorify 
Thee.  We  give  Thee 
thanks  for  Thy  great 
glory,  O Lord  God, 
heavenly  king,  God  the 
Father  almighty,  O Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  only- 
begotten  Son.  O Lord 
God,  Lamb  of  God, 
Son  of  the  Father, 
Who  takest  away  the 
sins  of  the  world,  have 
mercy  on  us.  Who 
takest  away  the  sins  of 
the  world,  receive  our 
prayer.  Who  sittest  at 
the  right  hand  of  the 
Father,  have  mercy  on 


256  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


solus  altissimus,  Jesu 
Christe,  cum  Sancto 
Spiritu,  in  gloria  Dei 
Patris.  Amen. 


P.  Dominus  vobis- 
cum. 

R . Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 


us.  For  Thou  alone  art 
holy;  Thou  alone  art 
the  Lord;  Thou  alone, 
O Jesus  Christ,  together 
with  the  Holy  Ghost,  art 
most  high  in  the  glory  of 
God  the  Father.  Amen. 

P.  The  Lord  be  with 
you. 

R.  And  with  thy 
spirit. 


2Efj e Stager 

OG0D,  Who,  in  this  wonderful  sacrament,  hast 
left  us  a memorial  of  Thy  passion,  grant  us, 
we  beseech  Thee,  so  to  venerate  the  sacred  mys- 
teries of  Thy  body  and  blood  that  we  may  con- 
stantly experience  in  ourselves  the  fruit  of  Thy 
redemption.  Who  livest  and  reignest  with  God 
the  Father,  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God, 
world  without  end.  Amen. 


8H )e  lEptstle 

i Cor.  xi.  23-29 

BRETHREN,  I have  received  of  the  Lord  that 
which  also  I delivered  to  you,  that  the  Lord 
Jesus,  the  same  night  in  which  He  was  betrayed, 
took  bread,  and  giving  thanks,  broke,  and  said, 
Take  ye  and  eat;  this  is  My  body  which  shall  be 
delivered  for  you ; this  do  for  the  commemoration 
of  Me.  In  like  manner  also  the  chalice,  after  He 
had  supped,  saying,  This  chalice  is  the  new  testa- 
ment in  My  blood ; this  do  ye,  as  often  as  you  shall 
drink,  for  the  commemoration  of  Me.  For  as 
often  as  you  shall  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  the 


The  ordinary  of  the  mass 


257 


chalice,  you  shall  show  the  death  of  the  Lord  until 
He  come.  Therefore  whosoever  shall  eat  this 
bread,  or  drink  of  the  chalice  of  the  Lord  un- 
worthily, shall  be  guilty  of  the  body  and  of  the 
blood  of  the  Lord.  But  let  a man  prove  himself; 
and  so  let  him  eat  of  that  bread,  and  drink  of  the 
chalice.  For  he  that  eateth  and  drinketh  un- 
worthily, eateth  and  drinketh  judgment  to  him- 
self, not  discerning  the  body  of  the  Lord. 


©rabual 
Psalm  144 


eyes  of  all  hope  in  Thee,  O Lord,  and 
Thou  givest  them  meat  in  due  season. 
V.  Thou  openest  Thy  hand,  and  fillest  every 
living  creature  with  Thy  blessing.  Alleluia,  alle- 
luia. V . My  flesh  is  meat  indeed,  and  My  blood 
is  drink  indeed:  he  that  eateth  My  flesh  and 
drinketh  My  blood,  abideth  in  Me,  and  I in  him. 

From  Septuagesima  to  Easter,  in  place  of  the  Alleluias 
and  verse  following,  is  said  or  sung: 


2Kje  2Cract 

Malach.  1 


ROM  the  rising  of  the  sun  even  to  the  going 


down,  My  name  is  great  among  the  gentiles. 
V.  And  in  every  place  there  is  sacrifice,  and  there 
is  offered  to  My  name  a clean  offering:  for  My 
name  is  great  among  the  gentiles.  V.  Come,  eat 
My  bread:  and  drink  the  wine  which  I have 
mingled  for  you. 

In  Paschal  time  the  Gradual  is  omitted,  and  in  its  stead 
is  said  or  sung: 

Alleluia,  alleluia.  V.  Luke  xxiv.  The  dis- 
ciples knew  the  Lord  in  the  breaking  of  bread. 
Alleluia.  V.  John  vi.  My  flesh  is  meat  indeed, 


258  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 

and  My  blood  is  drink  indeed : he  that  eateth  My 
flesh,  and  drinketh  My  blood,  abideth  in  Me,  and 
I in  him.  Alleluia. 

fHunba  dor  fftettm 

aLEANSE  my  heart  and  my  lips,  O almighty 
God,  Who  didst  cleanse  with  a burning  coal 
the  lips  of  the  prophet  Isaias;  and  vouchsafe  in 
Thy  loving-kindness  so  to  purify  me  that  I may  be 
enabled  worthily  to  announce  Thy  holy  Gospel. 
Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

Vouchsafe,  O Lord,  to  bless  me. 

The  Lord  be  in  my  heart  and  on  my  lips,  that  I 
may  worthily  and  becomingly  announce  His 
Gospel.  Amen. 

(gospel 

P.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

R . And  with  thy  spirit. 

P.  The  following  is  taken  from  the  Holy 
Gospel  according  to  St.  John  (vi.  56-59). 

R.  Glory  be  to  Thee,  O Lord. 

YtT  THAT  time,  Jesus  said  to  the  multitudes 
of  the  Jews:  My  flesh  is  meat  indeed,  and 
My  blood  is  drink  indeed.  He  that  eateth  My 
flesh,  and  drinketh  My  blood,  abideth  in  Me,  and 
I in  him.  As  the  living  Father  hath  sent  Me,  and 
I live  by  the  Father,  so  he  that  eateth  Me,  the 
same  also  shall  live  by  Me.  This  is  the  bread 
that  came  down  from  heaven.  Not  as  your 
fathers  did  eat  manna  and  are  dead.  He  that 
eateth  this  bread  shall  live  for  ever. 

R.  Praise  be  to  Thee,  O Christ. 

P.  May  our  sins  be  blotted  out  by  the  words 
of  the  Gospel. 


259 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 

2Tfje  Nkene  ffireeti 


a REDO  in  unum 
Deum,  Patrem  om- 
nipotentem,  factorem 
cceli  et  terrae,  visibilium 
omnium,  et  invisibilium. 
Et  in  unum  Dominum 
Jesum  Christum,  Filium 
Dei  unigenitum.  Et  ex 
Patre  natum  ante  omnia 
saecula.  Deum  de  Deo, 
lumen  de  lumine,  Deum 
verum  de  Deo  vero. 
Genitum,  non  factum, 
consubstantialem  Patri : 
per  quern  omnia  facta 
sunt.  Qui  propter  nos 
homines,  et  propter  nos- 
tram  salutem  descendit 
decoelis.  Etincarnatus 
EST  DE  SPIRITU  SANCTO 
ex  Maria  Virgine:  Et 

HOMO  FACTUS  EST.  CrU- 
cifixus  etiam  pro  nobis, 
sub  Pontio  Pilato  passus, 
et  sepultus  est.  Et  re- 
surrexit  tertia  die,  se- 
cundum Scripturas.  Et 
ascendit  in  coelum:  se- 
det  ad  dexteram  Patris. 
Et  iterum  venturus  est 
cum  gloria,  judicare  vi- 
vos et  mortuos:  cujus 
regni  non  erit  finis.  Et 
in  Spiritum  Sanctum, 


I BELIEVE  in  one 
God,  the  Father 
almighty,  maker  of 
heaven  and  earth,  and 
of  all  things  visible  and 
invisible.  And  in  one 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
only-begotten  Son  of 
God,  born  of  the  Father 
before  ail  ages;  God  of 
God,  light  of  light,  true 
God  of  true  God;  be- 
gotten, not  made;  con- 
substantial  with  the 
Father,  by  Whom  all 
things  were  made.  Who 
for  us  men,  and  for  our 
salvation,  came  down 
from  heaven,  and  was 

INCARNATE  BY  THE  HOLY 

Ghost  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  and  was  made 
man.  He  was  crucified 
also  for  us,  suffered 
under  Pontius  Pilate, 
and  was  buried.  And 
the  third  day  He  arose 
again,  according  to  the 
Scriptures,  and  as- 
cended into  heaven. 
He  sitteth  at  the  right 
hand  of  the  Father : and 
He  shall  come  again 
with  glory,  to  judge  the 


260  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


Dominum  et  vivifican- 
tem : qui  ex  Patre  Filio- 
que  procedit.  Qui  cum 
Patre  et  Filio  simul  ado- 
ratur  et  conglorificatur : 
qui  locutus  est  per  pro- 
phetas.  Et  unam  sanc- 
tam  catholicam  et  apos- 
tolicamEcclesiam.  Con- 
fiteor  unum  baptisma  in 
remissionem  peccato- 
rum.  Et  exspecto  resur- 
rectionem  mortuorum. 
Et  vitam  venturi  saeculi. 
Amen. 


P.  Dominus  vobis- 
cum. 

R.  Et  cum  spiritu 
tuo. 

P.  Oremus. 


living  and  the  dead : and 
His  kingdom  shall  have 
no  end.  And  in  the 
Holy  Ghost,  the  Lord 
and  Giver  of  life,  Who 
proceedeth  from  the 
Father  and  the  Son, 
Who,  together  with  the 
Father  and  the  Son,  is 
adored  and  glorified: 
Who  spoke  by  the 
prophets.  And  one,  holy, 
Catholic,  and  apostolic 
Church.  I confess  one 
baptism  for  the  remis- 
sion of  sins.  And  I ex'- 
pect  the  resurrection  of 
the  dead,  and  the  life 
of  the  world  to  come. 
Amen. 

P . The  Lord  be  with 
you. 

R.  And  with  thy 
spirit. 

P . Let  us  pray. 


©ffertcrg 

Lev.  xxi 


J^HE  priests  of  the  Lord  offer  incense  and 
loaves  to  God,  and  therefore  they  shall  be 
holy  to  their  God,  and  shall  not  defile  His  name. 
Alleluia. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


261 


Taking  the  paten  with  the  host 
ECEIVE,  O Holy  Father,  almighty  and  eter- 
nal  God,  this  spotless,  host,  which  I,  Thine 
unworthy  servant,  offer  unto  Thee,  my  living  and 
true  God,  for  my  countless  sins,  trespasses,  and 
omissions;  likewise  for  all  here  present,  and  for 
all  faithful  Christians,  whether  living  or  dead, 
that  it  may  avail  both  me  and  them  to  salvation, 
unto  life  everlasting.  Amen. 


The  priest  pours  wine  and  water  into  the  chalice 
GOD,  Who  in  creating  man  didst  exalt  his 
nature  very  wonderfully  and  yet  more  won- 
derfully didst  establish  it  anew;  by  the  mystery 
signified  in  the  mingling  of  this  water  and  wine, 
grant  us  to  have  part  in  the  Godhead  of  Him  Who 
hath  vouchsafed  to  share  our  manhood,  Jesus 
Christ,  Thy  Son,  Our  Lord,  Who  liveth  and 
reigneth  with  Thee  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
God,  world  without  end.  Amen. 


The  Offering  of  the  chalice 
77fTE  OFFER  unto  Thee,  O Lord,  the  chalice  of 
salvation,  beseeching  Thy  clemency  that  it 
may  ascend  as  a sweet  odor  before  Thy  divine 
majesty,  for  our  own  salvation  and  for  that  of  the 
whole  world.  Amen. 


UMBLED  in  mind,  and  contrite  of  heart,  may 
we  find  favor  with  Thee,  O Lord;  and  may 
the  sacrifice  we  this  day  offer  up  be  well-pleasing 
to  Thee  Who  art  our  Lord  and  our  God. 


aOME,  Thou,  the  Sanctifier,  God,  almighty 
and  everlasting ; bless  this  sacrifice  which  is 
prepared  for  the  glory  of  Thy  holy  name. 


262  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


The  priest  washes  his  fingers 

I WILL  wash  my  hands  among  the  innocent, 
and  will  compass  Thine  altar,  O Lord. 

That  I may  hear  the  voice  of  praise,  and  tell  of 
all  Thy  wondrous  works. 

I have  loved,  O Lord,  the  beauty  of  Thy  house, 
and  the  place  where  Thy  glory  dwelleth. 

Take  not  away  my  soul,  O God,  with  the 
wicked:  nor  my  life  with  men  of  blood. 

In  whose  hands  are  iniquities : their  right  hand 
is  filled  with  gifts. 

But  as  for  me,  I have  walked  in  my  innocence; 
redeem  me,  and  have  mercy  on  me. 

My  foot  hath  stood  in  the  right  way;  in  the 
churches  I will  bless  Thee,  O Lord. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  etc. 

Bowing  in  the  middle  of  the  altar 
'T^>  ECEIVE,  O holy  Trinity,  this  oblation 
offered  up  by  us  to  Thee,  in  memory  of 
the  passion,  resurrection,  and  ascension  of  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  honor  of  blessed  Mary, 
ever  a virgin,  of  blessed  John  the  Baptist,  of  the 
holy  apostles  Peter  and  Paul,  of  these,  and  of  all 
the  saints,  that  it  may  be  available  to  their  honor 
and  to  our  salvation;  and  may  they  whose 
memory  we  celebrate  on  earth  vouchsafe  to  inter- 
cede for  us  in  heaven.  Through  the  same  Christ 
our  Lord.  Amen. 


Turning  toward  the  people , he  says: 

©rate  JFratres 

'TT*  RETHREN,  pray  that  my  sacrifice  and  yours 


may 

almighty. 


be  well-pleasing  to  God  the  Father 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS  263 


<X> 


AY  the  Lord  receive  this  sacrifice  at  thy 
hands,  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  His  name, 


to  our  own  benefit,  and  to  . that  of  all  His  holy 
Church. 


je  Secret 

THY  goodness,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord, 
grant  to  Thy  Church  the  gifts  of  unity  and 
peace,  which  are  mystically  represented  under 
the  gifts  we  offer.  Through  Jesus  Christ  Thy 
Son,  Our  Lord,  Who  liveth  and  reigneth  with 
Thee  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


This  being  finished , the  priest  says  aloud 

E\ je  Preface 

P.  World  without  end. 

R.  Amen. 

P.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

R.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

P.  Lift  up  your  hearts. 

R.  We  have  them  lifted  up  unto  the  Lord. 

P.  Let  us  give  thanks  to  the  Lord  our  God. 

R.  It  is  meet  and  just. 

IT  IS  truly  meet  and  just,  right  and  profitable 
for  us  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places,  to  give 
thanks  to  Thee,  O Lord,  the  holy  One,  the  Father 
almighty,  the  everlasting  God;  because  by  the 
mystery  of  the  Word  made  flesh,  from  Thy  bright- 
ness a new  light  hath  risen  to  shine  on  the  eyes 
of  our  souls,  in  order  that,  God  becoming  visible 
to  us,  we  may  be  borne  upward  to  the  love  of 
things  invisible.  And  therefore  with  the  angels 
and  archangels,  with  the  thrones  and  dominations^ 
and  with  all  the  array  of  the  heavenly  host,  we  sing 
a hymn  to  Thy  glory,  and  unceasingly  repeat : 


264  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 
2Tj)e  Sanctus 

Here  the  hell  is  rung  thrice 

'"pC  OLY,  holy,  holy,  Lord  God  of  hosts. 

The  heavens  and  the  earth  are  full  of  Thy 
gLory.  Hosanna  in  the  highest. 

Blessed  is  He  Who  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord.  Hosanna  in  the  highest. 


Zb c Canon  of  tbe  /Hbaes 

Elevating  his  hands  and  raising  his  eyes  toward  heaven , 
the  priest  says  in  a low  voice: 

^7^r*HEREFORE,  we  humbly  pray  and  beseech 
Thee,  most  merciful  Father,  through 
Jesus  Christ  Thy  Son,  Our  Lord,  to  receive  and 
to  bless  these  ►f*  gifts,  these  presents,  these 
holy,  unspotted  sacrifices,  which  we  offer  up  to 
Thee,  in  the  first  place,  for  Thy  holy  Catholic 
Church,  that  it  may  please  Thee  to  grant  her 
peace,  to  guard,  unite,  and  guide  her  throughout 
the  world;  as  also  for  Thy  servant  N.,  our  Pope, 
and  N.,  our  bishop,  and  for  all  who  are  orthodox 
in  belief  and  who  profess  the  catholic  and  apos- 
tolic faith. 

Wl )t  Commemoration  of  tfje  iLtiring 

©E  MINDFUL,  O Lord,  of  Thy  servants,  N. 

and  N.,  and  of  all  here  present,  whose  faith 
and  devotion  are  known  to  Thee,  for  whom  we 
offer,  or  who  offer  up  to  Thee,  this  sacrifice  of 
praise,  for  themselves,  their  families,  and  their 
friends,  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls  and  the 
health  and  welfare  they  hope  for,  and  who  now 
pay  their  vows  to  Thee,  God  eternal,  living,  and 
true. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


265 

*np^AVING  communion  with  and  venerating  the 
r-I-b  memory,  first,  of  the  glorious  Mary,  ever  a 
virgin,  mother  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  God  and  our 
Lord:  likewise  of  Thy  blessed  apostles  and 
martyrs,  Peter  and  Paul,  Andrew,  James,  John, 
Thomas,  James,  Philip,  Bartholomew,  Matthew, 
Simon  and  Thaddaeus;  of  Linus,  Cletus,  Clement, 
Sixtus,  Cornelius,  Cyprian,  Lawrence,  Chrysog- 
onus,  John  and  Paul,  Cosmas  and  Damian,  and 
of  all  Thy  saints:  for  the  sake  of  whose  merits 
and  prayers  do  Thou  grant  that  in  all  things  we 
may  be  defended  by  the  help  of  Thy  protection. 
Through  the  same  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

Spreading  his  hands  over  the  oblation , the  priest 
says: 

‘//j  | HEREFORE,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord, 
graciously  to  receive  this  oblation  which 
we  Thy  servants,  and  with  us  Thy  whole  family, 
offer  up  to  Thee:  dispose  our  days  in  Thy  peace; 
command  that  we  be  saved  from  eternal  damna- 
tion and  numbered  among  the  flock  of  Thine 
elect.  Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

Vt'ND  do  Thou,  O God,  vouchsafe  in  all  re- 
spects  to  bless,  ^ consecrate,  and  ap- 
prove this  our  oblation,  to  perfect  it  and  to  ren- 
der it  well-pleasing  to  Thyself,  so  that  it  may 
become  for  us  the  body  ►J*  and  blood  of  Thy 
most  beloved  Son,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord; 

77 TT'HO,  the  day  before  He  suffered,  took  bread 
into  His  holy  and  venerable  hands, 

The  priest  takes  the  host  into  his  hands 
and,  having  lifted  up  His  eyes  to  heaven, 


266  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


The  priest  raises  his  eyes  to  heaven 
to  Thee,  God,  His  almighty  Father,  giving  thanks 
to  Thee,  blessed  it,  ►f*  broke  it,  and  gave  it  to  His 
disciples,  saying:  Take  ye,  and  eat  ye  all  of  this: 

At  the  elevation  the  bell  is  rung  thrice 
jFor  tiffs  is  ffltv  botrn 

After  pronouncing  the  words  of  Consecration , the  priest , 
kneeling , adores  the  Sacred  Host ; rising , he  elevates 
it;  then , placing  it  on  the  corporal , again  adores  it. 

IN  LIKE  manner,  after  He  had  supped,  taking 
also  into  His  holy  and  venerable  hands  this 
goodly  chalice, 

The  priest  takes  the  chalice  into  his  hands 
again  giving  thanks  to  Thee,  He  blessed  it 
The  priest  signs  the  chalice  with  the  sign  of  the  cross 

and  gave  it  to  His  disciples,  saying:  Take 
ye,  and  drink  ye  all  of  this: 

The  priest  then  pronounces  the  words  of  Consecration 
over  the  chalice , holding  it  slightly  elevated 


jFor  tips  is  tije  cfraitee  of  irtootr,  of  tf)e  neto 
antr  everlasting  testament,  tfje  muster®  of  faitf), 
tofffel)  for  nou  antr  for  tnanp  sjjall  tie  sjjetr  unto  tfje 
remission  of  stns* 


As  often  as  ye  shall  do  these  things,  ye  shall  do 
them  in  memory  of  Me. 

The  bell  rings  thrice 

y^JX’HEREFORE,  O Lord  we,  Thy  servants, 
as  also  Thy  holy  people,  calling  to  mind 
the  blessed  passion  of  the  same  Christ  Thy  Son, 
our  Lord,  His  resurrection  from  the  grave,  and 
His  glorious  ascension  into  heaven,  offer  up  to 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS  267 

Thy  most  excellent  majesty  of  Thine  own  gifts 
bestowed  upon  us,  a victim  ►J*  which  is  pure,  a 
victim  which  is  holy,  a victim  which  is  stain- 
less, the  holy  bread  of  life  everlasting,  and  the 
chalice  of  eternal  salvation. 

Extending  his  hands , the  priest  says: 

VOUCHSAFE  to  look  upon  them  with  a gra- 
cious and  tranquil  countenance,  and  to 
accept  them,  even  as  Thou  wast  pleased  to  accept 
the  offerings  of  Thy  just  servant  Abel,  and  the 
sacrifice  of  Abraham,  our  patriarch,  and  that 
which  Melchisedech,  Thy  high  priest,  offered  up 
to  Thee,  a holy  sacrifice,  a victim  without  blemish. 

Bowing  down , he  says: 

'T/j  F'E  HUMBLY  beseech  Thee,  almighty  God, 
vJlA,  to  command  that  these  our  offerings  be 
borne  by  the  hands  of  Thy  holy  angel  to  Thine 
altar  on  high  in  the  presence  of  Thy  divine  maj- 
esty; that  as  many  of  us  as  shall  receive  the 
most  sacred  ^ body  and  ►f*  blood  of  Thy  Son  by 
partaking  thereof  from  this  altar  may  be  filled 
with  every  heavenly  blessing  and  grace ; through 
the  same  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

E\) z Commemoration  of  tlje  ©eah 

BE  MINDFUL  also,  O Lord,  of  Thy  servants, 
N.  and  N.,  who  have  gone  before  us  with 
the  sign  of  faith  and  who  sleep  the  sleep  of  peace. 


^*0  THESE,  O Lord,  and  to  all  who  rest  in 
Christ,  grant,  we  beseech  Thee,  a place  of 
refreshment,  light,  and  peace.  Through  the 
same  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


268  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 

Striking  his  breast  and  raising  his  voice , he  says: 

>^0  US  sinners,  also,  Thy  servants,  who  put 
vz)  our  trust  in  the  multitude  of  Thy  mercies, 
vouchsafe  to  grant  some  part  and  fellowship  with 
Thy  holy  apostles  and  martyrs:  with  John, 
Stephen,  Mathias,  Barnabas,  Ignatius,  Alexander, 
Marcellinus,  Peter,  Felicitas,  Perpetua,  Agatha, 
Lucy,  Agnes,  Cecilia,  Anastasia,  and  with  all  Thy 
saints.  Into  their  company  do  Thou,  we  beseech 
Thee,  admit  us,  not  weighing  our  merits,  but 
freely  pardoning  our  offences:  through  Christ  our 
Lord. 


©Y  WHOM,  O Lord,  Thou  dost  always  create, 
sanctify,  quicken,  bless,  and  be- 
stow upon  us  all  these  good  things. 


^r^HROUGH  Him,  and  with  Him,  and  in 
vz)  Him,  is  to  Thee,  God  the  Father  ^ al- 
mighty, in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  all 
honor  and  glory.  World  without  end.  Amen. 


STfje  Pater  Noster 


DMONISHED  by  salutary  precepts,  and 
following  divine  directions,  we  presume  to 


say: 


OUR  Father,  Who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be 
Thy  name;  Thy  kingdom  come;  Thy  will 
be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven;  give  us  this 
day  our  daily  bread;  and  forgive  us  our  trespasses, 
as  we  forgive  those  who  trespass  against  us;  and 
lead  us  not  into  temptation. 

R.  But  deliver  us  from  evil. 

P.  Amen. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


269 


V|^*ELIVER  us,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord,  from 
all  evils,  past,  present,  and  to  come:  and 
by  the  intercession  of  the  blessed  and  glorious 
Mary,  ever  a virgin,  Mother  of  God,  and  of  Thy 
holy  apostles  Peter  and  Paul,  of  Andrew,  and  of  all 
the  saints,  graciously  grant  peace  in  our  days, 
that,  through  the  help  of  Thy  bountiful  mercy, 
we  may  always  be  free  from  sin  and  secure  from 
all  disturbance.  Through  the  same  Jesus  Christ, 
Thy  Son,  our  Lord,  Who  liveth  and  reigneth  with 
Thee  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  world 
without  end. 

R . Amen. 

P . May  the  peace  ►£*  of  the  Lord  be  always 
with  you. 

R . And  with  thy  spirit. 

Breaking  the  Host  he  puts  a particle  of  it  into  the 
chalice , saying: 

/T\AY  this  commingling  and  consecrating  of 
the  body  and  blood  of  Our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  avail  us  who  receive  it  unto  life  everlasting. 
Amen. 

&gmt0  fflet 

Bowing  down  and  striking  his  breast  three  times  he 
says: 

't  ’ AMB  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of 
the  world,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 
world,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 
world,  grant  us  peace. 

After  the  Agnus  Dei 

LORD  Jesus  Christ,  Who  didst  say  to  Thine 
apostles : “ Peace  I leave  you,  My  peace  I 


270  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 

give  you  ” ; look  not  upon  my  sins,  but  upon  the 
faith  of  Thy  Church,  and  vouchsafe  to  grant  her 
peace  and  unity  according  to  Thy  will.  Who 
livest  and  reignest,  God,  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

OLORD  Jesus  Christ,  Son  of  the  living  God, 
Who,  according  to  the  will  of  the  Father, 
through  the  co-operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  hast 
by  Thy  death  given  life  to  the  world;  deliver  me 
by  this  Thy  most  sacred  body  and  blood  from  all 
my  iniquities,  and  from  every  evil;  make  me 
always  cleave  to  Thy  commandments,  and  never 
suffer  me  to  be  separated  from  Thee,  Who,  with 
the  same  God,  the  Father  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
livest  and  reignest,  God,  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

ET  not  the  partaking  of  Thy  body,  O Lord 
^ Jesus  Christ,  which  I,  all  unworthy,  pre- 
sume to  receive,  turn  to  my  judgment  and  con- 
demnation; but  through  Thy  loving-kindiiess  may 
it  be  to  me  a safeguard  and  remedy  for  soul  and 
body;  Who,  with  God  the  Father,  in  the  unity  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  livest  and  reignest,  God,  world 
without  end.  Amen. 


St  tf )t  Communion 

I WILL  take  the  bread  of  heaven,  and  will  call 
upon  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

Here  he  strikes  his  breast  thrice 


ORD,  I am  not  worthy  that  Thou  shouldst 
r-Li  enter  under  my  roof;  but  only  say  the  word, 
and  my  soul  shall  be  healed. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


271 


CD 


Consuming  the  Sacred  Host , he  says: 

AY  the  body  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  keep 
my  soul  unto  life  everlasting.  Amen. 


(C  IHAT  shall  I render  unto  the  Lord  for  all 
the  things  that  He  hath  rendered  unto 
me  ? I will  take  the  chalice  of  salvation  and  will 
call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord.  With  high 
praises  will  I call  upon  the  Lord,  and  I shall  be 
saved  from  all  mine  enemies. 


CD 


Receiving  the  Precious  Blood , he  says: 

AY  the  blood  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  keep 
my  soul  unto  life  everlasting.  Amen. 


Entmlgenceb  ‘Erts  in  l^onor  of  ti)e  Bless eb  Sacrament 1 2 3 

Reverent  Genuflection  and  Devout  Invocation  Before  the 
Blessed  Sacrament ; Exterior  Act  of  Reverence,  while  pass- 
ing a Church. 

1.  For  reciting  in  any  language  the  invocation, 
“ Jesus,  my  God,  I adore  Thee  here  present  in 
the  sacrament  of  Thy  love”  whilst  devoutly  genu- 
flecting before  the  Blessed  Sacrament  enclosed 
in  the  tabernacle,  one  hundred  days’  indulgence, 
each  time. 

2.  For  reciting  the  same  invocation  whilst 
adoring  with  a double  genuflection  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  solemnly  exposed,  three  hundred 
days,  each  time. 

3.  For  making  an  exterior  act  of  reverence  in 
passing  by  a church  or  oratory  where  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  is  kept,  one  hundred  days,  each  time. 

Pius  X (S.  Cong.  Indul.,  July  13,  1908). 

1 Added  by  the  Editor. 


272  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


Ejaculations 

/T)AY  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  be  praised,  adored,  and  loved 
with  grateful  affection,  at  every  moment,  in  all  the 
tabernacles  of  the  world,  even  to  the  end  of  time. 
Amen. 

Indulgence  of  ioo  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Feb. 
29,  1868. 


Sacrament  most  Holy,  O Sacrament  Divine, 
All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  mo- 
ment Thine! 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  April 
10,  1913. 

Taking  the  first  ablution , he  says: 

INTO  a pure  heart,  O Lord,  may  we  receive  the 
heavenly  food  which  has  passed  our  lips; 
bestowed  upon  us  in  time,  may  it  be  the  healing 
of  our  souls  for  eternity. 


Taking  the  second  ablution , he  says: 

/T\AY  Thy  body,  O Lord,  which  I have  re- 
ceived,  and  Thy  blood,  which  I have  drunk, 
cleave  to  mine  inmost  parts:  and  do  Thou  grant 
that  no  stain  of  sin  remain  in  me,  whom  pure  and 
holy  mysteries  have  refreshed.  Who  livest  and 
reignest  world  without  end.  Amen. 


He  wipes  the  chalice  and  rearranges  it  and  its  appur- 
tenances, covering  all  with  a silken  veil , and  leaving 
it  in  the  center  of  the  altar . He  then  reads: 


Clje  Communion 

1 Cor.xi 

OFTEN  as  you  shall  eat  this  bread,  and 
drink  the  chalice,  you  shall  show  forth  the 
death  of  the  Lord,  until  He  come : therefore  who- 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS  273 

soever  shall  eat  this  bread  or  drink  the  chalice  of 
the  Lord  unworthily,  shall  be  guilty  of  the  body 
and  blood  of  the  Lord.  Alleluia. 

P.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

R.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

P.  Let  us  pray. 


2Hje  Pastccmtmumon 

^(RANT  us,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord,  to  be 
filled  with  the  everlasting  enjoyment  of  Thy 
divinity,  which  the  temporal  partaking  of  Thy 
precious  body  and  blood  doth  foreshow.  Who 
livest  and  reignest  with  God  the  Father  in  the 
unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  world  without  end. 
R . Amen. 

P.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

R . And  with  thy  spirit. 

P.  Go,  the  Mass  is  ended. 

R . Thanks  be  to  God. 

Bowing  before  the  altar , the  priest  says: 

®AY  the  lowly  homage  of  my  service  be  pleas- 
ing to  Thee,  O most  holy  Trinity:  and  do 
Thou  grant  that  the  sacrifice  which  I,  all  unworthy, 
have  offered  up  in  the  sight  of  Thy  majesty  may 
be  acceptable  to  Thee,  and,  because  of  Thy  loving- 
kindness, may  avail  to  atone  to  Thee  for  myself 
and  for  all  those  for  whom  I have  offered  it  up. 
Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

He  kisses  the  altar , and  turning  to  the  people , gives  the 
Blessing 

/TVAY  almighty  God,  the  Father  *f«,  and  the 
AJ-s  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  bless  you. 

R.  Amen. 


274  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 

P.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

R.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

P.  The  beginning  of  the  holy  Gospel,  accord- 
ing to  St.  John. 

R . Glory  be  to  Thee,  O Lord. 

3Tfj z Hast  (gospel 

IN  THE  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word 
was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God.  The 
same  was  in  the  beginning  with  God.  All  things 
were  made  by  Him,  and  without  Him  was  made 
nothing  that  was  made.  In  Him  was  life,  and  the 
life  was  the  light  of  men:  and  the  light  shineth 
in  darkness,  and  the  darkness  did  not  comprehend 
it.  There  was  a man  sent  from  God  whose  name 
was  John.  This  man  came  for  a witness  to  give 
testimony  of  the  light,  that  all  men  might  believe 
through  him.  He  was  not  the  light,  but  was  to 
give  testimony  of  the  light.  That  was  the  true 
light  which  enlighteneth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  this  world.  He  was  in  the  world,  and  the 
world  was  made  by  Him,  and  the  world  knew 
Him  not.  He  came  unto  his  own,  and  His  own 
received  Him  not.  But  as  many  as  received  Him, 
to  them  He  gave  power  to  become  the  sons  of 
God:  to  them  that  believe  in  His  name;  who  are 
born,  not  of  blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor 
of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God.  And  the  Word 
was  made  Flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us,  and  we 
saw  His  glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  only-begotten 
of  the  Father,  full  of  grace  and  truth. 

R.  Thanks  be  to  God. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 


275 


Iprager 0 after  Xow  /llbaes 

After  the  celebration  of  Low  Mass,  the  priest,  kneel- 
ing at  the  altar  steps,  says  with  the  people  the  prayers 
which  follow : 

“ Hail  Mary,”  three  times.  Then 


Salbe  3&egma 

*X^AIL,  holy  Queen,  Mother  of  mercy,  hail,  our 
life,  our  sweetness,  and  our  hope!  To  thee 
do  we  cry,  poor  banished  children  of  Eve,  to  thee 
do  we  send  up  our  sighs,  mourning  and  weeping 
in  this  valley  of  tears.  Turn,  then,  most  gracious 
advocate,  thine  eyes  of  mercy  toward  us;  and 
after  this  our  exile  show  unto  us  the  blessed  fruit 
of  thy  womb,  Jesus.  O clement,  O loving,  O 
sweet  virgin  Mary. 

P.  Pray  for  us,  O holy  mother  of  God. 

R . That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

Let  us  pray 

OG0D,  our  refuge  and  our  strength,  look  down 
with  favor  upon  Thy  people  who  cry  to  Thee; 
and  through  the  intercession  of  the  glorious  and 
immaculate  Virgin  Mary,  Mother  of  God,  of  her 
spouse,  blessed  Joseph,  of  Thy  holy  apostles, 
Peter  and  Paul,  and  all  the  saints,  mercifully  and 
graciously  hear  the  prayers  which  we  pour  forth 
to  Thee  for  the  conversion  of  sinners  and  for  the 
liberty  and  exaltation  of  holy  mother  Church. 
Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 


C^fT.  MICHAEL,  the  archangel,  defend  us  in 
battle,  be  our  protection  against  the  malice 
and  snares  of  the  devil.  We  humbly  beseech 


276  THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS 

God  to  command  him,  and  do  tjiou,  O prince  of 
the  heavenly  host,  by  the  divine  power  thrust  into 
hell  Satan  and  the  other  evil  spirits  who  roam 
through  the  world  seeking  the  ruin  of  souls. 
Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days.  — Leo  XIII,  Sept.  25,  1888. 


(Sjaculatum  after  fHags 


£D 


OST  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  have  mercy  on 
us!  ( Three  times.) 


Indulgence  of  seven  years  and  seven  quarantines. 
— Pius  X,  June  17,  1904.  The  indulgence  holds  good 
if  the  prayer  is  said  alternately  with  the  priest.  (The 
Raccolta.) 


fiDass  to  Beg  for  peace 

To  be  used  in  connection  with  the  Ordinary  of  the 
Mass,  page  252. 

Pragers  at  tfje  jjaat  at  t fyz  ^lltar 

the  name  of  the 
Father,  ►£*  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Amen. 

P.  I will  go  in  to  the 
altar  of  God. 

R.  To  God,  Who  giveth 
joy  to  my  youth. 


IN  nomine  Patris,  et 
Filii,  et  Spiritus  Sancti. 
Amen. 

P . Introibo  ad  alt  are 
Dei. 

R.  Ad  Deum,  qui  laeti- 
ficat  juventutem  meam. 


TN 

X F 


The  Psalm,  etc.,  as  on  page  252,  down  to  the  Introit. 


2T|je  Introit 

Ecclus.  xxxvi 

IVE  peace,  O Lord,  to  them  that  patiently  wait  for 
Thee,  that  Thy  prophets  may  be  found  faithful: 
hear  the  prayers  of  Thy  servant^  and  of  Thy  people 
Israel.  Ps . cxxi.  I rejoiced  at  the  things  that  were 
said  to  me:  We  shall  go  into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
V.  Glory. 

The  Kyrie  as  on  page  255. 


9Efje  Pragrt 

OG0D,  from  Whom  are  holy  desires,  right  coun- 
sels, and  just  works,  give  to  Thy  servants  that 
peace  which  the  world  cannot  give;  that  our  hearts 
being  devoted  to  the  keeping  of  Thy  commandments, 
and  the  fear  of  enemies  being  removed,  our  times,  by 
Thy  protection,  may  be  peaceful.  Through  Jesus  Christ 
Thy  Son,  Our  Lord,  Who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  Thee 
in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  world  without  end.  • 
Amen. 


277 


278 


MASS  TO  BEG  FOR  PEACE 


2Tlje  lEptstle 

2 Mach.  i.  1-5 

*3^0  THE  brethren,  the  Jews  that  are  throughout 
Egypt,  the  brethren,  the  Jews  that  are  in  Jeru- 
salem, and  in  the  land  of  Judea  send  health,  and  good 
peace.  May  God  be  gracious  to  you,  and  remember 
His  covenant  that  He  made  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac, 
and  Jacob,  His  faithful  servants:  And  give  you  all  a 
heart  to  worship  Him,  and  to  do  His  will  with  a great 
heart,  and  a willing  mind.  May  He  open  your  heart 
in  His  law,  and  in  His  commandments,  and  send  you 
peace.  May  He  hear  your  prayers,  and  be  reconciled 
unto  you,  and  never  forsake  you  in  the  evil  time. 

Eije  (Stabual 

Ps.  cxxi 

VT^)RAY  ye  for  the  things  that  are  for  the  peace  of 
A—  Jerusalem:  and  abundance  for  them  that  love 
thee.  V.  Let  peace  be  in  thy  strength:  and  abun- 
dance in  thy  towers.  Alleluia,  alleluia.  V.  Ps.  cxlvii. 
Praise  the  Lord,  O Jerusalem:  praise  thy  God,  O Sion. 
Alleluia. 

From  Septuagesima  to  Easter,  the  Alleluias  and  verse 
following  are  omitted,  and  in  their  place  is  said  or  sung : 


2£fje  5Tract 

Ps.  lxxv 

IN  JUDEA  God  is  known,  His  name  is  great  in 
Israel.  V . And  His  place  is  in  peace,  and  His 
abode  in  Sion.  V.  There  hath  He  broken  the  power 
of  bows,  the  shield,  the  sword,  and  the  battle. 

In  Paschal  time,  for  the  Gradual  is  said  or  sung: 
Alleluia,  alleluia.  V . Ps.  cxlvii.  Praise  the  Lord, 
O Jerusalem:  praise  thy  God,  O Sion.  Alleluia. 
V.  Who  hath  placed  peace  in  thy  borders:  and  filleth 
thee  with  the  fat  of  corn.  Alleluia. 

The  Munda  Cor  Meum  as  on  page  258. 


MASS  TO  BEG  FOR  PEACE 


279 


2H)e  (gospel 

John  xx.  19-23 


T THAT  time : when  it  was  late,  that  same  day, 


the  first  of  the  week,  and  the  doors  were  shut, 


where  the  disciples  were  gathered  together  for  fear  of 
the  Jews,  Jesus  came  and  stood  in  the  midst,  and  said 
to  them:  Peace  be  to  you.  And  when  He  had  said 
this,  He  showed  them  His  hands  and  His  side.  The 
disciples  therefore  were  glad  when  they  saw  the  Lord. 
He  said  therefore  to  them  again : Peace  be  to  you.  As 
the  Father  hath  sent  Me,  I also  send  you.  When  He 
had  said  this,  He  breathed  on  them;  and  He  said  to 
them:  Receive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost.  Whose  sins  you 
shall  forgive,  they  are  forgiven  them;  and  whose  sins 
you  shall  retain,  they  are  retained. 


©ffettorg 


Ps.  cxxxiv 


*T£)RAISE  ye  the  Lord,  for  He  is  good,  sing  ye  to  His 
4-  name,  for  it  is  sweet:  whatsoever  He  pleased, 
He  hath  done  in  heaven  and  upon  earth. 

Now  follow  the  prayers  for  the  Offering  of  the  Host,  etc., 
on  page  261,  down  to  the  Orate  Fratres  inclusive,  page  262. 


Secret 


OG0D,  Who  sufferest  not  the  nations  that  believe 
in  Thee  to  be  shaken  by  any  fear,  deign,  we  be- 
seech Thee,  to  receive  the  prayers  and  sacrifices  of  the 
people  consecrated  to  Thee,  that  peace,  the  gift  of  Thy 
loving-kindness,  may  render  Christian  countries  safe 
from  every  enemy.  Through  Jesus  Christ,  Thy  Son, 
Our  Lord,  Who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  Thee  in  the 
unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

Now  follows  the  Ordinary  of  the  Mass,  from  the  Preface, 
page  263,  down  to  the  Communion,  exclusive,  page  272. 


28o 


MASS  TO  BEG  FOR  PEACE 

(Rje  ffiommuntan 

John  xiv 


£D 


Wqz  Pogtcommunton 


|Y  PEACE  I leave  you : My  peace  I give  you,  saith 
the  Lord. 


OG0D,  the  author  and  lover  of  peace,  Whom  to 
know  is  to  live,  and  to  serve  is  to  reign,  protect 
Thy  suppliants  from  all  assaults,  that  we,  who  trust  in 
Thy  defence,  may  fear  no  armed  hostility.  Through 
Jesus  Christ  Thy  Son,  Our  Lord,  Who  liveth  and 
reigneth  with  Thee  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God, 
world  without  end.  Amen. 

After  the  Postcommunion  the  Mass  is  concluded  as  on 
page  273. 


IlnOulgettcefc  praters  Htrangefc  for 
fuse  at  /Pass 

Note.  — The  use  of  indulgenced  prayers  is  highly 
recommended,  particularly  in  aid  of  the  poor  souls  in 
purgatory.  Let  us  bear  in  mind,  however,  that  it  is  far 
better  to  say  a few  of  these  prayers  during  Mass  with 
attention  and  devotion  than  to  recite  many  of  them 
hurriedly  and  indevoutly. 

These  and  other  indulgenced  prayers  and  devotions 
contained  in  the  present  volume  — at  least  most  of  them 
— will  be  found  suitable  and  serviceable  not  only  at 
Mass  and  for  holy  communion,  but  also  for  visits  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  and  for  the  hour  of  adoration. 

iprqraratorg  Ptagets  anb  ©ffcrings 
Wqz  <£tgn  of  tlje  dross 

IN  THE  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  July  28,  1863. 

0ffertttg  to  br  fftatJe  at  tlje  Beginning  of  Htflass 
^fTERNAL  Father,  I unite  myself  with  the  in- 
V-4  tentions  and  affections  of  Our  Lady  of  Sor- 
rows on  Calvary,  and  I offer  Thee  the  sacrifice 
which  Thy  beloved  Son  Jesus  made  of  Himself 
on  the  Cross,  and  now  renews  on  this  holy  altar : 
1.  To  adore  Thee  and  give  Thee  the  honor  which 
is  due  to  Thee,  confessing  Thy  supreme  dominion 
over  all  things,  and  the  absolute  dependence  of 
everything  upon  Thee,  Who  art  our  one  and  last 
end.  2.  To  thank  Thee  for  innumerable  benefits 
received.  3.  To  appease  Thy  justice,  irritated 
against  us  by  so  many  sins,  and  to  make  satisfac- 
tion for  them.  4.  To  implore  grace  and  mercy  for 
281 


282 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


myself,  for  . . for  all  afflicted  and  sorrowing, 
for  poor  sinners,  for  all  the  world,  and  for  the  holy 
souls  in  purgatory. 

300  days.  — Pius  X,  July  8,  1904. 


Offering  of  fftasses  for  tfye  JBging 

/'T'vY  GOD,  I offer  Thee  all  the  Masses  which 
A*/  are  being  celebrated  to-day  throughout  the 
whole  world,  for  sinners  who  are  in  their  agony 
and  who  are  to  die  this  day.  May  the  precious 
blood  of  Jesus,  their  Redeemer,  obtain  mercy  for 
them. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Dec.  18,  1907. 


Ejaculations 


m 


E ADORE  Thee,  most  holy  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  we  bless  Thee;  because  by  Thy 


holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed  the  world. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  4,  1882. 
Saviour  of  the  world,  have  mercy  on  us! 

50  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Feb.  21,  1891. 


Jesus,  my  God,  I adore  Thee  here  present  in  the 
Sacrament  of  Thy  love. 

100  days,  each  time,  before  the  tabernacle;  300 
days,  each  time,  at  exposition  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment. — Pius  X,  July  3,  1908. 

O Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  have  mercy 
on  us! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  20,  1911. 


Ejaculation  of  &t.  Philip  Neri 


o> 


ARY,  virgin  mother  of  God,  pray  to  Jesus 
for  me. 


50  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  29,  1894. 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS  285 


lEjaculatton  to  tfye  fHotfjn:  of  fftmg 

©ARY,  mother  of  God  and  mother  of  mercy, 
pray  for  us,  and  for  the  departed. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  December  15, 
1883. 

at  tlje  Confitror 


^rager 

't“*OOSEN,  O Lord,  we  pray  Thee,  in  Thy  pity, 
the  bonds  of  our  sins,  and  by  the  interces- 
sion of  the  blessed  and  ever  virgin  Mary,  mother 
of  God,  St.  Joseph,  the  blessed  apostles  Peter  and 
Paul,  and  all  the  saints,  keep  us,  Thy  servants, 
and  our  abodes  in  all  holiness;  cleanse  us,  our 
relations,  kinsfolk,  and  acquaintances,  from  all 
stain  of  sin;  adorn  us  with  all  virtue;  grant  us 
peace  and  health;  drive  far  off  all  our  enemies, 
visible  and  invisible;  bridle  our  carnal  appetites; 
give  us  healthful  seasons;  bestow  Thy  love  upon 
our  friends  and  our  enemies;  guard  Thy  holy 
city;  preserve  our  Sovereign  Pontiff,  N.,  and  de- 
fend all  our  prelates,  princes,  and  all  Thy  Chris- 
tian people,  from  all  adversity.  Let  Thy  blessing 
be  ever  upon  us,  and  grant  to  all  the  faithful  de- 
parted eternal  rest.  Through  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 

40  days,  each  time.  — Leo  XII,  July  9,  1828. 

2lt  tf )e  Intrott 

Eraser  to  tfje  fHost  3§olg  Erinttg 

OMNIPOTENCE  of  the  Father,  help  my  weak- 
ness, and  deliver  me  from  the  depth  of 
misery. 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


284 

Wisdom  of  the  Son,  direct  all  my  thoughts, 
words,  and  actions. 

Love  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  thou  the  source  and 
beginning  of  all  the  operations  of  my  soul,  whereby 
they  may  be  always  comformable  to  the  divine 
will. 

200  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  15,  1890. 

Ejaculations 


<i>y  GOD  and  my  all! 


50  days,  each  time.  — Leo  XIII,  May  4,  1888. 

My  God,  unite  all  minds  in  the  truth,  and  all 
hearts  in  charity. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  30,  1908. 

^lt  tlje  Itgrie  lEIetsou 
Ejaculations 

1.  JESUS,  mercy! 

100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Sept.  24,  1846. 

2.  My  sweetest  Jesus,  be  not  my  judge,  but  my 
saviour! 

50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Aug.  11,  1851. 

3.  Eucharistic  Heart  of  Jesus,  have  mercy  on 
us. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  December  26,  1907. 
at  tl)e  (gloria 

^>{LORY  to  God  in  the  highest  and  on  earth 
peace  to  men  of  good  will.  ( Luke  ii.  14.) 
This  is  the  charity  of  God,  that  we  keep  His 
commandments.  (1  John  v.  3.) 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


285 


Wqt  practice  of  tlje  &etoen  (gloria  ^atris 

Glory  be  to  the  Father  and  to  the  Son  and  to 
the  Holy  Ghost,  etc. 

The  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Pius  IX,  by  a rescript  of  the 
S.  Cong,  of  the  Propaganda  Fidei,  March  12,  1857, 
granted  to  all  the  faithful  who  devoutly  and  with  con- 
trite hearts,  recite  seven  times  the  Glory  be  to  the 
Father , with  the  intention  of  asking  for  the  Seven  Gifts 
for  the  propagation  of  the  Faith  and  for  the  intentions 
of  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  an  indulgence  of  seven  days. 


Ejaculation 

QAY  the  most  just,  most  high,  and  most  ador- 
able will  of  God  be  in  all  things  done, 
praised,  and  magnified  forever. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  VII,  May  19,  1818. 


3t  ti)e  Collects 

Let  us  pray 

OMNIPOTENT  Lord,  Who  dost  permit  evil 
that  good  may  spring  from  it,  listen  to  the 
humble  prayers  by  which  we  ask  of  Thee  the  grace 
of  remaining  faithful  to  Thee,  even  unto  death. 
Grant  us  also,  through  the  intercession  of  Mary 
ever  blessed,  that  we  may  always  conform  our- 
selves to  Thy  most  holy  will. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  July  19,  1879. 

^rager 

OM0ST  compassionate  Jesus!  Thou  alone 
art  our  salvation,  our  life,  and  our  resurrec- 
tion. We  implore  Thee,  therefore,  do  not  forsake 
us  in  our  needs  and  afflictions,  but,  by  the  agony 
of  Thy  most  sacred  Heart,  and  by  the  sorrows  of 
Thy  immaculate  mother,  succor  Thy  servants 


286 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


whom  Thou  hast  redeemed  by  Thy  most  precious 
blood. 

ioo  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Oct.  6, 1870. 


imager 


DIVINE  Jesus,  incarnate  Son  of  God,  Who 
for  our  salvation  didst  vouchsafe  to  be  born 
in  a stable,  to  pass  Thy  life  in  poverty,  trials,  and 
misery,  and  to  die  amid  the  sufferings  of  the  cross, 
I entreat  Thee,  say  to  Thy  divine  Father  at  the 
hour  of  my  death:  Father,  forgive  him;  say  to 
Thy  beloved  mother:  Behold  thy  son;  say  to  my 
soul:  This  day  thou  shalt  be  with  Me  in  paradise . 
My  God,  my  God,  forsake  me  not  in  that  hour. 
I thirst:  yes,  my  God,  my  soul  thirsts  after  Thee, 
Who  art  the  fountain  of  living  waters.  My  life 
passes  like  a shadow;  yet  a httle  while,  and  all 
will  be  consummated.  Wherefore,  O my  ador- 
able Saviour,  from  this  moment,  for  all  eternity, 
into  Thy  hands  I commend  my  spirit.  Ldrd  Jesus, 
receive  my  soul.  Amen. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  June  10,  1856. 


St  tf)iv  lEptstle 


^r[HIS  is  the  will  of  God  — your  sanctification. 

(1  Thess.  iv.  3.) 

Pursue  justice,  godliness,  faith,  charity,  pa- 
tience, mildness.  (1  Tim.  vi.  11.) 

Follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness,  with- 
out which  no  man  shall  see  God.  (Heb.  xii.  14.) 

According  to  Him  that  hath  called  you,  Who  is 
holy,  be  you  also  in  all  manner  of  conversation 
holy.  Because  it  is  written : you  shall  be  holy,  for 
I (the  Lord  your  God)  am  holy.  (1  Peter  i.  15, 
16.) 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


287 

The  grace  of  God  our  Saviour  hath  appeared  to 
all  men;  instructing  us  that,  denying  ungodliness 
and  Worldly  desires,  we  should  live  soberly  and 
justly  and  godly  in  this  world. 

Looking  for  the  blessed  hope  and  coming  of  the 
glory  of  the  great  God  and  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ.  ( Titus  ii.  11-13.) 

draper 

O JESUS,  living  in  Mary,  come  and  live  in 
Thy  servants,  in  the  spirit  of  Thy  holiness, 
in  the  fulness  of  Thy  power,  in  the  reality  of  Thy 
virtues,  in  the  perfection  of  Thy  ways,  in  the  com- 
munion of  Thy  mysteries;  subdue  every  hostile 
power,  in  Thy  spirit,  to  the  glory  of  the  Father. 
Amen. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Oct.  14,  1859. 
Ejaculations 

77ESUS,  my  God,  I love  Thee  above  all  things. 
50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  May  7,  1854. 

Jesus,  meek  and  humble  of  heart,  make  my 
heart  like  unto  Thine. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Sept.  15,  1905. 

May  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  be  loved  every- 
where ! 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Sept.  23,  i860. 

St  tlje  (flogpel 

17ESUS  said  to  His  disciples:  “ If  you  love  Me, 
keep  My  commandments.”  ( John  xiv.  15.) 

“ This  is  charity,  that  we  walk  according  to  His 
commandments.”  (2  John  i.  6.) 

“ For  not  the  hearers  of  the  law  are  just  before 


2 88 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


God,  but  the  doers  of  the  law  shall  be  justified.” 
(Rom.  ii.  13.) 

“ What  shall  it  profit,  my  brethren,  if  a man  say 
he  hath  faith,  but  hath  not  works  ? Shall  faith  be 
able  to  save  him?  ” . . . “ Faith  without  works 

is  dead.”  ( James  ii.  14,  26.) 

“ Do  good  to  thy  friend  before  thou  die  and 
according  to  thy  ability;  stretching  out  thy  hand, 
give  to  the  poor.”  (Eccles.  xiv.  13.) 

“ Wherefore  be  you  also  ready,  because  at  what 
hour  you  know  not  the  Son  of  man  will  come.” 
(Matt.  xxiv.  44.) 

“ O that  they  would  be  wise  and  would  under- 
stand and  would  provide  for  their  last  end.” 
(Deut.  xxxii.  29.) 

“ For  what  shall  it  profit  a man,  if  he  gain  the 
whole  world,  and  suffer  the  loss  of  his  soul?  ” i 
(Mark  viii.  36.) 

Prager  to  tij t ?§olg  spirit  for  tfje  (£lpirrfj 

OH0LY  Spirit,  Creator,  propitiously  help  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  by  Thy  heavenly  power 
strengthen  and  confirm  it  against  the  assaults  of 
the  enemy;  by  Thy  charity  and  grace  renew  the 
spirit  of  Thy  servants  whom  Thou  hast  anointed, 
that  in  Thee  they  may  glorify  the  Father  and  His 
only-begotten  Son,  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 
300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Aug.  26,  1889. 

draper  for  tlj t propagation  of  tfje  JFattff 

OH0LY  Spirit,  spirit  of  truth,  come  into  our 
hearts;  shed  the  brightness  of  Thy  light  on 
all  nations,  that  they  may  be  one  in  faith  and  pleas- 
ing to  Thee. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  July  31,  1897, 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


289 


Tent,  &ancte  ^ptritus 


ENI,  Sancte  Spiri- 
tus,  reple  tuorum 
corda  fidelium,  et  tui 
amoris  in  eis  ignem  ac- 
cende. 


aOME,  O Holy 
Ghost,  fill  the 
hearts  of  Thy  faithful, 
and  kindle  in  them  the 
fire  of  Thy  love. 


300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  8,  1907. 


fEjacuiatton 

^ ACRED  Heart  of  Jesus,  Thy  kingdom 
come! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  4,  1906. 

3Lt  tf )t  (treba 
<&n  met  of  JFattij 

OMY  God!  I believe  in  Thee;  I believe  all 
that  Thou  hast  revealed,  and  that  the  holy 
Catholic  Church  proposes  to  my  belief.  I believe 
that  the  most  blessed  Virgin  is  truly  the  mother  of 
God;  I believe  firmly  and  with  all  certainty,  that 
she  is  at  the  same  time  mother  and  virgin,  and 
that  she  is  free  from  even  the  least  actual  sin.  I 
also  believe  most  firmly,  and  with  all  certainty, 
that,  by  a singular  grace  and  privilege  of  almighty 
God,  in  view  of  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Saviour  of  the  human  race,  Mary  was,  in  the  first 
instant  of  her  conception,  preserved  free  from  all 
stain  of  original  sin.  I believe  most  firmly,  and 
with  all  certainty,  that  when  the  Roman  Pontiff 
speaks  ex  cathedra  — that  is,  when,  in  quality  of 
the  chief  pastor  and  teacher  of  all  Christians,  he, 
in  virtue  of  his  supreme  and  apostolic  authority, 
defines  the  doctrine  to  be  held  by  the  universal 
Church  concerning  faith  or  morals  — by  the  divine 


290 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


assistance,  promised  him  in  the  person  of  St. 
Peter,  he  enjoys  that  infallibility  with  which  the 
divine  Redeemer  wished  His  Church  to  be  en- 
dowed when  defining  matters  of  faith  or  morals; 
and,  therefore,  that  such  definitions  of  the  Roman 
Pontiff  are,  of  themselves,  and  not  from  the  con- 
sent of  the  Church,  irreformable.  I believe  all 
this,  because  Thy  holy  Church,  which  is  the  pillar 
and  ground  of  truth,  which  has  never  erred  and 
can  never  err,  proposes  it  to  be  believed, 
ioo  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Jan.  io,  1871. 


at  tf)e  ©ffertorg  anti  Secret  Pragers 
©fferntg  anti  ^rager  of  St.  Egnattus  Hogola 


USCIPE,  Domine, 
universam  m e a m 
libertatem.  Accipe  me- 
moriam,  intellectum  at- 
que  voluntatem  omnem. 
Quidquid  habeo  vel  pos- 
sideo,  mihi  largitus  es; 
id  tibi  totum  restituo  ac 
tuae  prorsus  voluntati 
trado  gubernandum. 
Amorem  tui  solum  cum 
gratia  tua  mihi  dones  et 
dives  sum  satis,  nec 
aliud  quidquam  ultra 
posco. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — 


AKE,  O Lord,  and 
receive  all  my  lib- 
erty, my  memory,  my 
understanding,  and  my 
whole  will.  Thou  hast 
given  me  all  that  I am 
and  all  that  I possess; 
I surrender  it  all  to  Thee 
that  Thou  mayest  dis- 
pose of  it  according  to 
Thy  will.  Give  me  only 
Thy  love  and  Thy  grace ; 
with  these  I will  be  rich 
enough,  and  will  have 
no  more  to  desire. 

Leo  XIII,  May  26,  1883. 


©ffcrhtg  to  Jesus 

©Y  LOVING  Jesus,  I,  N.  N.,  give  Thee  my 
heart,  and  I consecrate  myself  wholly  to 
Thee,  out  of  the  grateful  love  I bear  Thee,  and 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


291 

as  a reparation  for  all  my  unfaithfulness;  and 
with  Thy  aid  I purpose  never  to  sin  again. 

100  days,  once  a day,  to  all  who  shall,  with  at  least 
contrite  heart  and  devotion,  make  this  offering  before 
a picture  of  the  Sacred  Heart.  — Pius  VII,  June  9,  1807. 


<En  Offering  to  % Eternal  JFatfjer 

^fTERNAL  Father,  we  offer  Thee  the  blood, 
the  passion,  and  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  sorrows  of  Mary  most  holy,  and  of  St.  Joseph, 
in  satisfaction  for  our  sins,  in  aid  of  the  holy  souls 
in  purgatory,  for  the  needs  of  holy  Mother  Church, 
and  for  the  conversion  of  sinners. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  April  30,  i860. 

& TBatls  act  of  Ablation 


OL0RD  Jesus  Christ,  in  union  with  that  divine 
intention  with  which  Thou  didst  on  earth 
offer  praises  to  God  through  Thy  sacred  Heart, 
and  now  dost  continue  to  offer  them  in  all  places 
in  the  sacrament  of  the  Eucharist,  and  wilt  do  so 
to  the  end  of  the  world,  I most  willingly  offer  Thee, 
throughout  this  entire  day  without  the  smallest 
exception,  all  my  intentions  and  thoughts,  all  my 
affections  and  desires,  all  my  words  and  actions, 
that  they  may  be  conformed  to  the  most  sacred 
heart  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  ever  immacu- 
late. 


100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Dec.  19,  1885. 
Ejaculation 


^^WEETEST  Jesus,  grant  me  an  increase  of 
faith,  hope,  and  charity,  a contrite  and 
humble  heart. 


100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Sept.  13,  1893. 


292 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


2lt  t^e  preface 

Prater  ta  tije  fftost  goljj  &rtnttg 

I ADORE  Thee,  O my  God,  one  God  in  three 
Persons;  I annihilate  myself  before  Thy 
majesty.  Thou  alone  art  being,  life,  truth,  beauty, 
and  goodness.  I glorify  Thee,  I praise  Thee,  I 
thank  Thee,  and  I love  Thee,  all  incapable  and 
unworthy  as  I am,  in  union  with  Thy  dear  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Saviour  and  our  Father,  in  the 
mercifulness  of  His  Heart  and  through  His  in- 
finite merits.  I wish  to  serve  Thee,  to  please 
Thee,  to  obey  Thee,  and  to  love  Thee  always,  in 
union  with  Mary  immaculate,  mother  of  God  and 
our  mother,  loving  also  and  serving  my  neigh- 
bor for  Thy  sake.  Therefore,  give  me  Thy  holy 
Spirit  to  enlighten,  correct,  and  guide  me  in  the 
way  of  Thy  commandments,  and  in  all  perfection, 
until  we  come  to  the  happiness  of  heaven,  where 
we  shall  glorify  Thee  forever.  Amen. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  April  18,  1906. 


2lt  tfje  Sanetujs 


^SANCTUS.  sanctus, 
sanctus,  Dominus 
Deus  exercituum:  plena 
est  terra  gloria  tua. 
Gloria  Patri,  gloria  Filio, 
gloria  Spiritui  Sancto. 


"ptOLY,  holy,  holy, 
Lord  God  of  hosts : 
the  earth  is  full  of  Thy 
glory.  Glory  be  to  the 
Father,  glory  be  to  the 
Son,  glory  be  to  the  Holy 
Ghost. 


100  days,  once  a day,  and  100  days,  three  times  each 
Sunday,  as  well  as  on  the  feast  of  the  Most  Holy  Trinity, 
and  during  its  octave.  — Clement  XIV,  June  6,  1769. 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


293 


lEjacuiatton 

/'TXAY  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  be  praised,  adored,  and  loved 
with  grateful  affection,  at  every  moment,  in  all 
the  tabernacles  of  the  world,  even  to  the  end  of 
time.  Amen. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Feb.  29,  1868. 


©urtng  tl )e  Canon 
®ffertng  to  tl je  iEternal  JFatljer 
To  be  made  during  Mass 

ASTERNAL  father,  I offer  to  Thee  the  sacrifice 
which  thy  beloved  Son  Jesus  made  of  Him- 
self upon  the  Cross,  and  which  He  now  renews 
upon  this  altar;  I offer  it  to  Thee  in  the  name  of 
all  creatures,  together  with  the  Masses  which 
have  been  celebrated,  and  which  shall  be  cele- 
brated in  the  whole  world,  in  order  to  adore  Thee, 
and  to  give  Thee  the  honor  which  Thou  dost  de- 
serve, to  render  to  Thee  due  thanks  for  Thy  in- 
numerable benefits,  to  appease  Thy  anger,  which 
our  many  sins  have  provoked,  and  to  give  Thee 
due  satisfaction  for  them;  to  entreat  Thee  also 
for  myself,  for  the  Church,  for  the  whole  world, 
and  for  the  blessed  souls  in  purgatory.  Amen. 

3 years,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  April  11,  i860. 


2lt  ttje  Commemoration  of  tl )e  Htbtng 


Prager  to  tfje  tfftost  &acreti  |§eart  of  Jesus 


ce 


OST  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  pour  down  Thy 
blessings  abundantly  upon  Thy  Church, 


upon  the  Supreme  Pontiff,  and  upon  all  the  clergy ; 
grant  perseverance  to  the  just,  convert  sinners, 
enlighten  infidels,  bless  our  parents,  friends,  and 


2Q4 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


benefactors;  assist  the  dying,  liberate  the  souls 
in  purgatory,  and  extend  over  all  hearts  the  sweet 
empire  of  Thy  love. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  X,  June  16,  1906. 

Jirager  for  tfje  Conversion  of  dinners 
LORD  Jesus,  most  merciful  Saviour  of  the 
world,  we  beg  and  beseech  Thee,  through 
Thy  most  sacred  Heart,  that  all  wandering  sheep 
may  now  return  to  Thee,  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop 
of  their  souls.  Who  livest  and  reignest  with  God 
the  Father  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  God,  for  ever  and 
ever.  Amen. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  22,  1905. 


^ragrr  to  Cur  ILortJ  on  tije  Cross 


f7ESU  mi  crucifixe,  sus- 
qJ  cipe  benignus  pre- 
cem  quam  nunc  pro  meae 
mortis  articulo  tibi 
fundo,  quando  ilia  jam 
appetente,  omnes  mei 
sensus  deficient. 


/T|Y  crucified  Jesus, 
mercifully  accept 
the  prayer  which  I now 
make  to  Thee  for  help 
in  the  moment  of  my 
death,  when  at  its  ap- 
proach all  my  senses 
shall  fail  me. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  X,  Sept.  4,  1903. 


^rager  for  a ?§appg  IBeatij 

O JESUS,  while  adoring  Thy  last  breath,  I 
pray  Thee  to  receive  mine.  In  the  uncer- 
tainty whether  I shall  have  the  command  of  my 
senses  when  I shall  depart  out  of  this  world,  I 
offer  Thee  from  this  moment  my  agony  and  all 
the  pains  of  my  passing  away.  Thou  art  my 
Father  and  my  Saviour,  and  I give  back  my  soul 
into  Thy  hands.  I desire  that  my  last  moment 
may  be  united  to  the  moment  of  Thy  death,  and 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS  295 

that  the  last  beat  of  my  heart  may  be  an  act  of 
pure  love  of  Thee.  Amen. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  July  16,  1902. 


Aspiration  at  tfj t lElebattcm  of  tije  Sacteh  3^ost 
/lb  £ XorD  anfc  /Ib£  (3oD! 

His  Holiness,  Pope  Pius  X,  on  May  18,  1907,  granted 
an  indulgence  of  seven  years  and  seven  quarantines,  to 
all  the  faithful  who,  at  the  Elevation  during  Mass,  or  at 
public  exposition  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  look  upon 
the  sacred  Host  and  say:  “ My  Lord  and  my  God!  ” 

O SACRAMENT  most  holy! 

O Sacrament  divine, 

All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving 
Be  every  moment  Thine. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  April  10,  1913. 


77ESUS  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  have  mercy 
J on  us! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  20,  1911. 


St  tije  iEk&ation  of  fyt  Sacreb  Cljalice 

'■p^AIL,  saving  victim  offered  upon  the  scaffold 
of  the  cross  for  me  and  for  the  whole  human 
race!  Hail,  precious  blood  flowing  from  the 
wounds  of  our  crucified  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and 
washing  away  the  sins  of  the  whole  world!  Re- 
member, O Lord,  Thy  servant,  the  work  of  Thy 
hands,  whom  Thou  hast  redeemed  by  Thy  pre- 
cious blood. 

His  Holiness,  Leo  XIII,  by  a rescript  of  the  Sacred 
Congregation  of  Indulgences,  June  30,  1893,  granted  to 
the  faithful  who  shall  recite  the  above  prayer  at  the 
Elevation  during  Holy  Mass,  an  indulgence  of  60  days, 
once  a day. 


296 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


lEjaculattons 

^STERNAL  Father!  I offer  Thee  the  precious 
blood  of  Jesus  in  satisfaction  for  my  sins 
and  for  the  wants  of  holy  Church. 

100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VII,  Sept.  22,  1817. 

ADORE  Thee,  O most  blessed  Lord, 
Jesus  Christ,  we  bless  Thee;  because  by 
Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed  the  world. 
100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  4,  1882. 
Saviour  of  the  world,  have  mercy  on  us! 

50  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Feb.  21,  1891. 


Continuation  of  ttj z Canon 
Stager  for  Cfyose  in  Eijetr  &gong 

OM0ST  merciful  Jesus,  lover  of  souls,  I pray 
Thee  by  the  agony  of  Thy  most  sacred  Heart 
and  by  the  sorrows  of  Thy  immaculate  mother, 
wash  in  Thy  blood  the  sinners  of  the  whole  world 
who  are  now  in  their  agony,  and  are  to  die  this 
day.  Amen. 

V.  Heart  of  Jesus,  once  in  agony,  pity  the 
dying. 

100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Feb.  2,  1850. 

tlje  Commemoration  of  tfje  Seab 

O FATHER  of  mercies,  in  the  name  of  Jesus, 
Thy  beloved  Son,  in  memory  of  His  bitter 
passion  and  cruel  death,  in  virtue  of  the  wound  of 
His  sacred  Heart,  and  in  consideration  also  of 
the  sorrows  of  the  immaculate  heart  of  Mary,  of 
the  heroic  deeds  of  all  the  saints,  and  of  the  tor- 
ments of  all  the  martyrs,  I implore  Thee  to  have 
pity  on  the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed  now 
suffering  in  purgatory. 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


297 


To  Thy  mercy  I recommend  especially  the  souls 
of  my  relatives,  friends,  and  benefactors,  and  of 
all  those  for  whom  I have  promised  to  pray. 

Terstcles  tit  ftfo  of  tijc  J^ois  &ouls  trt  ^urgatorg 

V.  Eternal  rest  grant  unto  them,  O Lord; 

R.  And  let  perpetual  light  shine  upon  them. 
Amen. 

May  they  rest  in  peace.  Amen. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Feb.  4,  1908. 

iPrager  to  tlje  Uttotm  anti  fftost  Compassionate  ®eart  of 
3esus 

O DIVINE  Heart  of  Jesus,  grant,  we  beseech 
Thee,  eternal  rest  to  the  souls  in  purgatory, 
the  final  grace  to  those  who  shall  die  to-day,  true 
repentance  to  sinners,  the  light  of  the  Faith  to 
pagans,  and  Thy  blessing  to  me  and  mine.  To 
Thee,  O most  compassionate  Heart  of  Jesus,  I 
commend  all  these  souls,  and  I offer  to  Thee  on 
their  behalf  all  Thy  merits,  together  with  the 
merits  of  Thy  most  holy  mother  and  of  all  the 
saints  and  angels,  and  all  the  sacrifices  of  the 
holy  Mass,  communions,  prayers,  and  good  works, 
which  shall  be  accomplished  to-day  throughout 
the  Christian  world. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  13,  1901. 
iEjamlations 

i^fUCHARISTIC  Heart  of  Jesus,  have  mercy 
on  us! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Dec.  26,  1907. 
Divine  Heart  of  Jesus,  convert  sinners,  save 
the  dying,  set  free  the  holy  souls  in  purgatory. 
300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  6,  1906. 


298  INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


&ct  of  Separation  anti  Consecration  to  be  fHatic  before  a 
Representation  of  tije  j&acreti  f&eart 

^T\Y  LOVING  Jesus,  out  of  the  grateful  love  I 
bear  Thee,  and  to  make  reparation  for  my 
unfaithfulness  to  grace,  I,  N.  N.,  give  Thee  my 
heart,  and  I consecrate  myself  wholly  to  Thee; 
and  with  Thy  help  I purpose  never  to  sin  again, 
ioo  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  VII,  June  9,  1807. 


St  tlje  Pater  Noster 


ATER  noster,  qui 
es  in  ccelis,  sanc- 
tificetur  nomen  tuum : 
adveniat  regnum  tuum: 
fiat  voluntas  tua  sicut  in 
ccelo,  et  in  terra.  Pa- 
nem  nostrum  quotidia- 
num  da  nobis  hodie : et 
dimitte  nobis  debita  nos- 
tra, sicut  et  nos  dimitti- 
mus debitoribus  nostris. 
Et  ne  nos  inducas  in  ten- 
tationem.  R.  Sed  li- 
bera nos  a malo. 

P.  Amen. 


OUR  Father,  Who  art 
in  heaven,  hal- 
lowed be  Thy  name: 
Thy  kingdom  come : Thy 
will  be  done  on  earth,  as 
it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us 
this  day  our  daily  bread : 
and  forgive  us  our  tres- 
passes, as  we  forgive 
those  who  trespass 
against  us.  And  lead 
us  not  into  temptation. 
R.  But  deliver  us  from 
evil. 

P.  Amen. 


3t  t fje  2Ltbera 

& Prager  for  Peace 

'T^vELIVER  us,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord,  from 
all  evils,  past,  present,  and  to  come;  and 
by  the  intercession  of  the  blessed  and  glorious 
Mary,  ever  a virgin,  mother  of  God,  and  of  Thy 
holy  apostles  Peter  and  Paul,  of  Andrew,  and  of 
all  the  saints,  graciously  grant  peace  in  our 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


299 

days,  that  through  the  help  of  Thy  bountiful 
mercy  we  may  always  be  free  from  sin,  and  secure 
from  all  disturbance. 

at  tfje  agnus 

‘TT“j  AMB  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of 
the  world,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 
world,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 
world,  grant  us  peace. 


Pragers 

Ant.  *r^vA  pacem,  Do- 
r-LJ  mine,  in  die- 
bus  nostris,  quia  non  est 
alius  qui  pugnet  pro  no- 
bis, nisi  tu,  Deus  noster. 

V.  Fiat  pax  in  virtute 
tua. 

R.  Et  abundantia  in 
turribus  tuis. 

Oremus 

'T^vEUS,  a quo  sancta 
r-LJ  desideria,  recta 
consilia,  et  justa  sunt 
opera:  da  servis  tuis 
illam,  quam  mundus 
dare  non  potest,  pacem: 
ut  et  corda  nostra  man- 
datis  tuis  dedita,  et  hos- 
tium  sublata  formidine, 
tempora  sint  tua  protec- 
tione  tranquilla.  Per 


for  Peace 

Ant . |^(IVE  peace,  O 
Lord,  in  our 
days;  for  there  is  none 
other  that  fighteth  for  us, 
but  only  Thou,  our  God. 

V.  Peace  be  in  Thy 
strength,  O Lord! 

R . And  plenty  in  Thy 
strong  places. 

Let  us  pray 

OGOD,  from  Whom 
proceed  all  holy  de- 
sires, all  right  counsels 
and  just  works:  grant 
unto  us,  Thy  servants, 
that  peace  which  the 
world  can  not  give,  that 
our  hearts  may  be  de- 
voted to  Thy  service, 
and  that,  delivered  from 
the  fear  of  our  enemies, 


3oo 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


Christum  Dominumnos-  we  may  pass  our  time  in 
trum.  Amen.  peace  under  Thy  protec- 

tion. Through  Christ 
our  Lord.  Amen. 

ioo  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  May  18,  1848. 


lEjaculation 


Y GOD,  unite  all  minds  in  the  truth  and  all 
hearts  in  charity. 


300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May*  30,  1908. 


2lt  Communion 

&ct  nf  Spiritual  Communion,  bg  St.  &lpljonsus  ILiguori 

/TvY  JESUS,  I believe  that  Thou  art  in  the 
VM  Most  Holy  Sacrament.  I love  Thee  above 
all  things,  and  I long  for  Thee  in  my  soul.  Since 
I cannot  receive  Thee  now  sacramentally,  come 
at  least  spiritually  into  my  heart.  I embrace 
Thee  as  already  there  and  unite  myself  wholly  to 
Thee;  never  permit  me  to  be  separated  from  Thee. 

Jesus,  my  good,  my  sweet  love, 

Wound,  inflame  this  heart  of  mine. 

So  that  it  may  be  always  and  all  on  fire  for  Thee! 
60  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  June  30,  1893. 


O JESUS,  sweetest  love,  come  Thou  to  me; 

Come  down  in  all  Thy  beauty  unto  me; 
Thou  Who  didst  die  for  longing  love  of  me; 

And  never,  never  more  depart  from  me. 

Free  me,  O beauteous  God,  from  all  but  Thee; 
Sever  the  chain  that  holds  me  back  from  Thee; 
Call  me,  O tender  love,  I cry  to  Thee; 

Thou  art  my  all!  O bind  me  close  to  Thee. 

— Shapcote. 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


301 


fEjaculations 

^fWEET  Heart  of  Jesus,  be  my  love. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  May  21,  1892. 

O SWEETEST  Heart  of  Jesus!  I implore 

That  I may  ever  love  Thee  more  and  more. 
300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Nov.  26,  1876. 


Ptagers  after  Jijolg  Cammunton 

^[QUL  of  Christ,  be  my  sanctification. 

Body  of  Christ,  be  my  salvation. 

Blood  of  Christ,  fill  all  my  veins. 

Water  of  Christ’s  side,  wash  out  my  stains. 
Passion  of  Christ,  my  comfort  be. 

O good  Jesu,  listen  to  me. 

In  Thy  wounds  I fain  would  hide, 

Ne’er  to  be  parted  from  Thy  side. 

Guard  me  should  the  foe  assail  me. 

Call  me  when  my  life  shall  fail  me. 

Bid  me  come  to  Thee  above, 

With  Thy  saints  to  sing  Thy  love. 

World  without  end.  Amen. 


Indulgences:  300  days,  each  time.  Seven  years,  if 
said  after  communion.  Plenary,  once  a month.  — 
Pius  IX,  Jan.  9,  1854. 

Prater  to  ®bmonte  lEbtl  Passions  anti  to  ISecome  a j&atnt 


Y^EAR  Jesus,  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar, 
be  forever  thanked  and  praised.  Love, 
worthy  of  all  celestial  and  terrestrial  love!  Who, 
out  of  infinite  love  for  me,  ungrateful  sinner,  didst 
assume  our  human  nature,  didst  shed  Thy  most 
precious  blood  in  the  cruel  scourging,  and  didst 
expire  on  a shameful  cross  for  our  eternal  welfare! 
Now,  illumined  with  lively  faith,  with  the  out- 
pouring of  my  whole  soul  and  the  fervor  of  my 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


302 

heart,  I humbly  beseech  Thee,  through  the  infinite 
merits  of  Thy  painful  sufferings,  give  me  strength 
and  courage  to  destroy  every  evil  passion  which 
sways  my  heart,  to  bless  Thee  in  my  greatest 
afflictions,  to  glorify  Thee  by  the  exact  fulfilment 
of  my  duties,  supremely  to  hate  all  sin,  and  thus 
to  become  a saint. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Jan.  1,  1866. 

St  tlje  Blessing 

IN  THE  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 

50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  July  28,  1863. 

Set  of  ©blatton  in  GEljanksgtbtng  for  Blessings  Becetbefc 
^fTERNAL  Father,  we  offer  Thee  the  most 
precious  blood  of  Jesus,  shed  for  us  with 
such  great  love  and  bitter  pain  from  His  right 
hand;  and  through  the  merits  and  the  efficacy 
of  that  blood  we  entreat  Thy  divine  majesty  to 
grant  us  Thy  holy  benediction,  in  order  that  we 
may  be  defended  thereby  from  all  our  enemies, 
and  be  set  free  from  every  ill ; whilst  we  say,  May 
the  blessing  of  almighty  God,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Spirit,  descend  upon  us  and  remain  with  us 
forever.  Amen.  Pater,  Ave,  and  Gloria. 

The  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Leo  XII,  by  a rescript,  Oct. 
25,  1823,  granted  to  all  the  faithful,  each  time  that, 
with  at  least  contrite  heart  and  devotion,  they  shall  say 
this  offering,  with  the  Our  Father , the  Hail  Mary , and 
the  Glory  he  to  the  Father , to  the  Most  Holy  Trinity, 
in  thanksgiving  for  blessings  received,  an  indulgence 
of  100  days,  and  a plenary  indulgence  to  those  who  shall 
have  said  it  daily,  for  a month,  on  any  day,  when,  after 
confession  and  communion,  they  shall  pray  for  the  in- 
tention of  the  Sovereign  Pontiff. 


FOR  USE  AT  MASS 


303 


St  t|je  Hast  (gospel 

Prager 

OL0RD,  Who,  in  the  mystery  of  the  glorious 
Transfiguration  of  Thy  Divine  Son,  didst 
deign  to  make  resplendent  the  truth  of  the  holy 
Catholic  Faith,  and  to  confirm  miraculously,  by 
Thy  very  word,  spoken  from  a cloud,  our  perfect 
adoption  as  Thy  sons;  we  humbly  beg  of  Thee 
to  grant  that  we  may  in  truth  become  coheirs  of 
this  same  King  of  Glory,  and  share  in  Thy  ever- 
lasting happiness.  Amen. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Dec.  14,  1889. 


Ejaculation 

JESUS  CHRIST,  Son  of  the  living  God,  light 
of  the  world,  I adore  Thee;  for  Thee  I live, 
for  Thee  I die. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  X,  July  1,  1909. 

St  t \)t  3£nb  of  tf)e  fHass 

©AY  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  be  praised,  adored,  and  loved 
with  grateful  affection,  at  every  moment,  in  all  the 
tabernacles  of  the  world,  even  to  the  end  of  time. 
Amen. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Feb.  29,  1868. 


Ejaculation  of  Blesseti  fHargaret  fHarg 

HEART  of  love,  I place  all  my  trust  in  Thee : 
for  though  I fear  all  things  from  my  weak- 
ness, I hope  all  things  from  Thy  mercies. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  June  2,  1908. 


304 


INDULGENCED  PRAYERS 


lEjaculattons 


£E> 


ARY,  our  hope,  have  pity  on  us! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Jan.  8,  1906. 


Mother  of  love,  of  sorrow,  and  of  mercy,  pray 
for  us. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  30,  1908. 


Prager  to  5t.  Josepfj 

JOSEPH,  virgin  father  of  Jesus,  most  pure 
spouse  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  pray  for  us  daily 
to  the  Son  of  God,  that,  armed  with  the  weapons 
of  His  grace,  we  may  fight  as  we  ought  in  life, 
and  be  crowned  by  Him  in  death. 

100  days,  twice  a day.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  26,  1906. 


^raget  ttt  ?§onot  of  tfje  |§olg  JFamtlg 

RANT  us,  O Lord  Jesus,  faithfully  to  imitate 
the  examples  of  Thy  holy  family,  so  that  in 
the  hour  of  our  death,  in  the  company  of  Thy 
glorious  Virgin  Mother  and  St.  Joseph,  we  may 
deserve  to  be  received  by  Thee  into  eternal 
tabernacles. 

200  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  25,  1897. 


devotions  for  Confession 


Before  Confession 


EFLECT  that  this  confession  may  be  the  last  of  your 
life.  Therefore,  prepare  yourself  for  it  as  if  you 
* ^ were  lying  sick  upon  your  deathbed,  and  already  at 

the  brink  of  the  grave.  Ask  God  to  give  you  the  grace  to 
make  a good  examination  of  conscience,  the  light  to  see 
your  sins  clearly,  and  the  strength  to  make  a sincere  con- 
fession and  to  amend  your  life. 


imager 

/''pwOST  merciful  God,  Father  in  heaven,  relying  on 
\l/,  Thy  goodness  and  mercy,  I come  to  Thee  with 
filial  confidence  to  confess  my  sins  and  to  implore  Thy 
forgiveness.  Thou  wilt  not  despise  a contrite  and 
humble  heart.  Bless  me  and  receive  me  again  into 
Thy  favor;  I acknowledge  that  I have  been  most  un- 
grateful to  Thee,  but  I sincerely  repent  and  detest  the 
wrong  I have  done,  and  I desire  henceforth  to  walk  in 
the  way  of  perfection,  in  accordance  with  Thy  holy 
will. 

O Jesus,  my  Saviour,  my  good  Shepherd,  I have 
strayed  far  from  the  path  that  Thou  hast  marked  out 
for  me;  I did  not  follow  in  Thy  footsteps;  I wandered 
into  forbidden  places.  Repentant  and  sorrowful,  I beg 
to  be  admitted  again  into  the  fold  of  Thy  faithful  fol- 
lowers. I want  to  confess  my  sins  with  perfect  sin- 
cerity, as  if  I were  at  the  point  of  death.  My  Jesus,  I 
look  to  Thee  with  confidence  for  the  grace  to  examine 
my  conscience  well. 

O Holy  Spirit,  come  in  Thy  mercy;  enlighten  my 
mind  and  strengthen  my  will  that  I may  know  my  sins, 
humbly  confess  them,  and  sincerely  amend  my  life. 

Mary,  my  mother,  immaculate  spouse  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  refuge  of  sinners,  assist  me  by  thy  inter- 
cession. 

Holy  angels  and  saints  of  God,  pray  for  me.  Amen. 

305 


306  DEVOTIONS  FOR  CONFESSION 

Examination  of  Conscience 

'YTYEGIN  by  examining  yourself  on  your  last  confes- 
sion:  Whether  a grievous  sin  was  forgotten 
through  want  of  proper  examination,  or  concealed  or 
disguised  through  shame.  Whether  you  confessed 
without  a true  sorrow  and  a firm  purpose  of  amendment. 
Whether  you  have  repaired  evil  done  to  your  neighbor. 
Whether  the  penance  was  performed  without  voluntary 
distractions.  Whether  you  have  neglected  your  con- 
fessor’s counsel,  and  fallen  at  once  into  habitual  sin. 

Then  examine  yourself  on  the  ten  commandments, 
the  commandments  of  the  Church,  the  seven  capital 
sins,  the  duties  of  your  state  of  life,  and  your  ruling 
passion.  Calmly  recall  the  different  occasions  of  sin 
which  have  fallen  in  your  way,  or  to  which  your  state 
and  condition  in  life  expose  you,  the  places  you  have 
frequented,  the  persons  with  whom  you  have  associ- 
ated. Do  not  neglect  to  consider  the  circumstances 
which  alter  the  grievousness  of  the  sin,  nor  the  various 
ways  in  which  we  become  accessory  to  the  sins  of 
others. 

Wqz  GTen  ^ommanUments  of  0oH 

i.  'T'  AM  the  Lord  thy  God,  Who  brought  thee  out  of 
the  land  of  Egypt,  and  out  of  the  house  of  bond- 
age. Thou  shalt  not  have  strange  gods  before  Me. 
Thou  shalt  not  make  to  thyself  a graven  thing,  nor  the 
likeness  of  any  thing  that  is  in  heaven  above,  or  in  the 
earth  beneath,  nor  of  those  things  that  are  in  the  waters 
under  the  earth.  Thou  shalt  not  adore  them,  nor  serve 
them. 

2.  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God 
in  vain;  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold  him  guiltless  that 
shall  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  his  God  in  vain. 

3.  Remember  that  thou  keep  holy  the  Sabbath  day. 

4.  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother,  that  thou  mayest 
be  long-lived  upon  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
will  give  thee. 

5.  Thou  shalt  not  kill. 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  CONFESSION 


307 


6.  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery. 

7.  Thou  shalt  not  steal. 

8.  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against  thy 
neighbor. 

9.  Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbor’s  wife. 

10.  Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbor’s  goods. 


&ix  (£0tntnan&ments  of  tfje  (Eljurdj 

1.  HEAR  Mass  on  Sundays  and  holy-days  of 

obligation. 

2.  To  fast  and  abstain  on  the  days  appointed. 

3.  To  confess  at  least  once  a year. 

4.  To  receive  the  Holy  Eucharist  during  Eastertime. 

5.  To  contribute  to  the  support  of  our  pastors. 

6.  Not  to  marry  persons  who  are  not  Catholics,  or 
who  are  related  to  us  within  the  fourth  degree  of  kin- 
dred, nor  privately  without  witnesses,  nor  to  solemnize 
marriage  at  forbidden  times. 


Ql\)t  &eben  UBeaUlg  Sins  anti  tlje  0ppostte  Utrtues 

1.  Pride Humility 

2.  Covetousness Liberality 

3.  Lust Chastity 

4.  Anger  . . - Meekness 

5.  Gluttony Temperance 

6.  Envy Brotherly  love 

7.  Sloth Diligence 


01je  .four  «Stns  tofjtdj  to  J^eaben  for  Fengeance 

1.  Wilful  murder.  2.  The  sin  of  Sodom.  3.  Oppres- 
sion of  the  poor.  4.  Defrauding  the  laborer  of  his 
wages. 


Nine  Maps  of  Being  an  Accessors  to  'Enotijer’s  Sin 

1.  By  counsel.  2.  By  command.  3.  By  consent. 
4.  By  provocation.  5.  By  praise  or  flattery.  6.  By 
concealment.  7.  By  partaking.  8.  By  silence.  9.  By 
defence  of  the  ill  done. 


3o8  DEVOTIONS  FOR  CONFESSION 
E\)e  &ePen  spiritual  ®2Eorfts  of  fEercg 

i.  To  admonish  sinners.  2.  To  instruct  the  igno- 
rant. 3.  To  counsel  the  doubtful.  4.  To  comfort  the 
sorrowful.  5.  To  bear  wrongs  patiently.  6.  To  for- 
give all  injuries.  7.  To  pray  for  the  living  and  the  dead. 

Cfje  &ebm  Corporal  SHorfts  of  HHercg 

1.  To  feed  the  hungry.  2.  To  give  drink  to  the 
thirsty.  3.  To  clothe  the  naked.  4.  To  visit  and  ran- 
som the  captives.  5.  To  harbor  the  harborless. 
6.  To  visit  the  sick.  7.  To  bury  the  dead. 


Preltmmarg  lExammatton 

V A T*HEN  did  you  make  your  last  confession?  Did 
\JlA>  you  take  sufficient  pains  to  awaken  contrition  ? 

Did  you  omit  to  confess  a mortal  sin  either  inten- 
tionally or  through  forgetfulness? 

Did  you  intentionally  neglect  to  say  the  penance 
which  was  imposed  on  you,  or  were  you  so  careless  as 
to  forget  it  ? 

Have  you  carried  out  the  resolutions  you  made  at 
your  last  confession  or  have  you  paid  no  heed  at  all  to 
them? 


lEiatninatton  on  tlje  Cm  ComntanUmmts  of  ©oti 

I.  'TFv  AVE  you  doubted  in  matters  of  faith  ? Mur- 
mured  against  God  at  your  adversity  or  at  the 
prosperity  of  others?  Despaired  of  His  mercy? 

Have  you  believed  in  fortune-tellers  or  consulted 
them? 

Have  you  gone  to  places  of  worship  belonging  to  other 
denominations  ? 

Have  you  recommended  yourself  daily  to  God? 
Neglected  your  morning  or  night  prayers?  Omitted 
religious  duties  or  practices  through  motives  of  human 
respect  ? 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  CONFESSION  309 

Have  you  read  books,  papers,  and  periodicals  of  anti- 
Catholic  or  atheistic  tendency?  Made  use  of  super- 
stitious practices?  Spoken  with  levity  or  irreverence 
of  priests,  Religious,  or  sacred  objects? 

H.  Have  you  taken  the  name  of  God  in  vain  ? Pro- 
faned anything  relating  to  religion  ? 

Have  you  sworn  falsely,  rashly,  or  in  slight  and  trivial 
matters  ? Cursed  yourself  or  others,  or  any  creature  ? 
Angered  others  so  as  to  make  them  swear,  or  blaspheme 
God? 

HI.  Have  you  kept  holy  the  Lord’s  Day,  and  all 
other  days  commanded  to  be  kept  holy?  Bought  or 
sold  things  not  of  necessity  on  that  day?  Done  or 
commanded  some  servile  work  not  of  necessity  ? 
Missed  Mass  or  been  wilfully  distracted  during  Mass  ? 
Talked,  gazed,  or  laughed  in  the  church  ? 

IV.  Have  you  honored  your  parents,  superiors,  and 
masters,  according  to  your  just  duty  ? Deceived  them  ? 
Disobeyed  them  ? 

Have  you  failed  in  due  reverence  to  aged  persons  ? 

V.  Have  you  procured,  desired,  or  hastened  the 
death  of  any  one?  Borne  hatred?  Oppressed  any 
one?  Desired  revenge ? Not  forgiven  injuries ? Re- 
fused to  speak  to  others?  Used  provoking  language? 
Injured  others  ? Caused  enmity  between  others  ? 

VI.  and  IX.  Have  you  been  in  lewd  company  ? Read 
immodest  books  ? Been  guilty  of  unchaste  songs,  dis- 
courses, words,  or  actions?  Wilfully  entertained  im- 
pure thoughts  or  desires  ? 

VH.  Have  you  been  guilty  of  stealing,  or  of  deceit  in 
buying,  or  selling,  in  regard  to  wares,  prices,  weights, 
or  measures?  Have  you  wilfully  damaged  another 
man’s  goods,  or  negligently  spoiled  them  ? 

VIII.  Have  you  borne  false  witness?  Called  in- 
jurious names  ? Disclosed  another’s  sins  ? Flattered 
others  ? Judged  rashly  ? 

X.  Have  you  coveted  unjustly  anything  that  belongs 
to  another  ? 


3io  DEVOTIONS  FOR  CONFESSION 


Examination  on  tfj t Precepts  of  tlje  Cfjnrclj 
AVE  you  gone  to  confession  at  least  once  a year  ? 
fJLfc  Received  holy  communion  during  Eastertime  ? 

Have  you  violated  the  fasts  of  the  Church,  or  eaten 
flesh-meat  on  prohibited  days  ? 

Have  you  sinned  against  any  other  Commandment 
of  the  Church? 

Examine  yourself  also  in  regard  to  the  seven  capital 
sins  and  the  nine  ways  of  being  accessory  to  another’s 
sin. 

®ter  tfje  lEiammatton 

^p^AVING  discovered  the  sins  of  which  you  have 
been  guilty,  together  with  their  number,  enor- 
mity, or  such  circumstances  as  may  change  their  nature, 
you  should  endeavor  to  excite  in  yourself  a heartfelt 
sorrow  for  having  committed  them,  and  a sincere  detes- 
tation of  them.  This  being  the  most  essential  of  all 
the  dispositions  requisite  for  a good  confession,  with 
what  humility,  fervor,  and  perseverance  should  you 
not  importune  Him  Who  holds  the  hearts  of  men  in  His 
hands  to  grant  it  to  you! 

&n  act  of  Contrition 


Recite  very  attentively  one  of  the  following  acts  of  con- 
trition: 


I 


OMY  God,  I am  heartily  sorry  for  having  offended 
Thee,  and  I detest  all  my  sins,  because  I dread 
the  loss  of  heaven  and  the  pains  of  hell,  but  most  of  all 
because  they  displease  Thee,  my  God,  Who  art  all- 
good and  deserving  of  all  my  love.  I firmly  resolve, 
with  the  help  of  Thy  grace,  to  confess  my  sins,  to  do 
penance,  and  to  amend  my  life. 


H 

OMY  God,  I am  truly  sorry  that  I have  sinned,  be- 
cause Thou  art  infinitely  good  and  sin  displeases 
Thee.  I purpose,  with  the  help  of  Thy  grace,  never 
more  to  offend  Thee,  and  to  avoid  the  occasions  of  sin. 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  CONFESSION 
III 


3ii 


OMY  God,  I am  heartily  sorry  for  having  offended 
Thee ; and  I detest  my  sins  above  every  other  evil, 
because  they  displease  Thee,  my  God,  Who  for  Thy  in- 
finite goodness  art  so  deserving  of  all  my  love;  and  I 
firmly  resolve,  by  Thy  holy  grace,  never  more  to  offend 
Thee,  and  to  amend  my  life. 


act  of  Cfjaritg 


OMY  God,  I love  Thee  with  my  whole  heart  and 
soul,  and  above  all  things,  because  Thou  art  in- 
finitely good  and  perfect,  and  most  worthy  of  all  my 
love;  and,  for  Thy  sake,  I love  my  neighbor  as  myself. 
Mercifully  grant,  O my  God,  that,  having  loved  Thee  on 
earth,  I may  love  and  enjoy  Thee  forever  in  heaven. 

PPROACH  the  confessional  with  the  same  recollected- 


ness  and  reverence  as  would  fill  your  heart  if  Christ 


(V/'  ’ our  Lord  were  seated  there  in  person  ready  to  hear 

your  confession.  The  priest  is  really  the  representative  of 


Christ. 


When  you  kneel  down,  say:  “ Bless  me.  Father,  for  I 
have  sinned .”  Then  tell  when  you  made  your  last  confes- 
sion and  begin  the  avowal  of  your  sins.  Confess  all  your 
sins  with  a contrite  and  humble  heart,  and  conclude  thus: 

For  these  and  all  the  sins  of  my  past  life,  especially 
my  sins  of  ( naming  some  grievous  szn),  I am  heartily 
sorry,  beg  pardon  of  God,  and  absolution  of  you,  my 
Father. 

You  may  also  conclude  your  confession  by  simply  saying: 
My  Jesus,  mercy! 

*-r— *ISTEN  then  with  humility  and  docility  to  the  instruc- 
I j tion  of  your  confessor,  and  during  this  time  avoid  all 
recurrence  as  to  the  confession  itself;  remembering 
that  sins  forgotten  after  a serious  examination  are  really  com- 
prised in  the  absolution.  Accept  with  submission  the  pen- 
ance imposed,  and  if  any  obstacle  that  you  foresee  will 
prevent  your  accomplishing  it,  state  this  respectfully. 

While  the  priest  pronounces  the  words  of  absolution,  en- 
deavor to  excite  an  act  of  perfect  contrition. 


312 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  CONFESSION 

Gba nksglvlng  after  Confession 

TERNAL  Father!  I thank  Thee  for  Thy  goodness 
and  mercy.  Thou  hast  had  compassion  on  me, 
although  in  my  folly  I had  wandered  far  away  from 
Thee  and  offended  Thee  most  grievously.  With 
fatherly  love  Thou  hast  received  me  anew  after  so 
many  relapses  into  sin  and  forgiven  me  my  offences 
through  the  holy  sacrament  of  Penance.  Blessed  for 
ever,  O my  God,  be  Thy  loving-kindness,  Thy  infinite 
mercy!  Never  again  will  I grieve  Thee  by  ingratitude, 
by  disobedience  to  Thy  holy  will.  All  that  I am,  and 
all  that  I have,  shall  be  consecrated  to  Thy  service  and 


Thy  glory. 


Ejaculations 

LL  for  Thee,  most  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus! 


300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  26,  1908. 

Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  I trust  in  Thee. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  June  27,  1906. 

Jesus,  my  God,  I love  Thee  above  all  things. 

50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  May  7,  1854. 

Sweet  heart  of  Mary,  be  my  salvation. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Sept.  30,  1852. 

O Mary,  conceived  without  sin,  pray  for  us  who  have 
recourse  to  thee. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  15,  1884. 

My  queen!  My  mother!  feemember  I am  thine; 
keep  me,  guard  me,  as  thy  property  and  possession. 

40  days,  each  time,  when  tempted.  — Pius  IX,  Aug.  5, 
1851. 

Mary,  our  hope,  have  pity  on  us! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Jan.  8,  1906. 


Devotions  for  Ibolp  Communion 

Before  receiving  holy  communion,  direct  your  inten- 
tion; that  is,  offer  to  God  your  Mass  and  communion 
for  the  glory  of  His  holy  name,  in  thanksgiving  for  bene- 
fits received,  in  reparation  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus 
for  the  outrages  committed  against  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, in  satisfaction  for  your  own  sins,  and  in  humble 
supplication  that  you  may  obtain  new  graces  and  bless- 
ings, above  all  the  gift  of  final  perseverance.  Offer  to 
God  also  some  special  intention,  e.g .,  the  conversion 
of  a friend,  the  welfare  of  your  family,  the  relief  of  the 
souls  in  purgatory.  Pray,  also,  according  to  the  Holy 
Father’s  intention,  and  for  the  needs  of  the  Church. 

The  Pope’s  intention  always  includes  the  following 
objects: 

The  progress  of  the  Faith  and  triumph  of  the  Church. 

Peace  and  union  among  Christian  princes  and  rulers. 

The  conversion  of  sinners. 

The  uprooting  of  heresy. 

Resolve  to  struggle  earnestly  against  your  ruling 
passion  and  pray  that  the  spirit  of  Christ  may  dominate 
all  your  actions. 


JBefore  Communion 

Direct  gout  Intention1 

MOST  high  and  mighty  God,  I,  an  unworthy 
sinner,  desire  to  receive  the  sacrament  of 
the  most  holy  body  and  blood  of  Thy  Son,  for  the 
praise  and  glory  of  Thy  supreme  majesty;  in 
memory  of  the  most  holy  life,  passion,  and  death 
of  Jesus  Christ  my  Saviour;  in  thanksgiving  for 
all  Thy  gifts  and  blessings  bestowed  upon  me,  an 
unworthy  sinner,  and  on  Thy  whole  Church;  for 
1 From  The  Paradise  of  the  Christian  Soul. 

313 


3i4  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

the  propitiation  of  my  numberless  sins;  for  the 
salvation  of  myself  and  my  relations,  N.,  and  for 
the  repose  of  the  departed,  N.  Truly,  O Lord, 
in  Thee  alone  is  all  that  can  satisfy  my  heart’s 
desire.  For  besides  Thee  what  have  I in  heaven, 
or  what  do  I desire  upon  earth  ? Wilt  Thou  not 
Thyself  be  our  reward  exceeding  great? 


Sets  af  jFaitlj,  Sbnratton,  J^ope,  ffiJjarttg,  anti 
dtantutujn 

77ESUS,  I believe  in  Thee,  because  Thou  art 
fj  Truth  itself. 

T7 ESUS,  my  God,  I adore  Thee  here  present  in 
J the  Sacrament  of  Thy  love. 

77ESUS,  I hope  in  Thee,  because  Thou  art  merci- 
J ful,  and  faithful  to  Thy  promises. 

77ESUS,  I love  Thee,  because  Thou  art  all  good, 
tJ  and  worthy  of  all  my  love. 

77ESUS,  my  God,  I am  truly  son*y  for  having 
c)  sinned,  because  Thou  art  infinitely  good  and 
sin  displeases  Thee.  I firmly  resolve  by  the  help 
of  Thy  grace  never  to  offend  Thee  again,  and  care- 
fully to  avoid  the  occasions  of  sin. 


^rager 

BEHOLD,  my  most  loving  Jesus,  to  what  an 
excess  Thy  boundless  love  has  carried  Thee. 
Of  Thine  own  flesh  and  precious  blood  Thou  hast 
made  ready  for  me  a divine  banquet  in  order  to 
give  me  all  Thyself.  What  was  it  that  impelled 
Thee  to  this  transport  of  love  ? It  was  Thy  Heart, 
Thy  loving  Heart.  O adorable  Heart  of  my 
Jesus!  burning  furnace  of  divine  Love!  within 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  315 


Thy  most  sacred  wound  receive  Thou  my  soul; 
that  in  that  school  of  charity  I may  learn  to  re- 
quite the  love  of  that  God  Who  has  given  me  such 
wondrous  proofs  of  His  love.  Amen. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  VII,  Feb.  9,  1818. 


JESUS,  sweetest  Love,  come  Thou  to  me; 
Come  down  in  all  Thy  beauty  unto  me; 
Thou  Who  didst  die  for  longing  love  of  me ; 

And  never,  never  more  depart  from  me. 

Free  me,  O beauteous  God,  from  all  but  Thee; 
Sever  the  chain  that  holds  me  back  from  Thee; 
Call  me,  O tender  Love,  I cry  to  Thee; 

Thou  art  my  all!  O bind  me  close  to  Thee. 

— Shapcote. 


a 


OME,  my  Jesus,  come! 


ORD,  I am  not  worthy  that  Thou  shouldst 
r*— * enter  under  my  roof;  but  only  say  the  word, 
and  my  soul  shall  be  healed. 

AY  the  body  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  keep 
my  soul  unto  life  everlasting.  Amen. 


© 


Btter  Communion 

Sets  of  Sboratton,  SEfjanksgtbmg,  Reparation,  anb 
Prager 

*77JtELC0ME,  dearest  Jesus,  welcome  to  my 
VJlX  heart!  With  most  holy  Mary,  with  the 
angels  and  the  saints,  I adore  Thee,  my  Lord  and 
my  God.  To  Thee  be  praise  and  glory  now  and 
forevermore. 

With  Magdalen  I kiss  Thy  sacred  feet.  With 
John,  the  beloved  disciple,  I rest  upon  Thy  sacred 
Heart.  I love  Thee  and  desire  to  love  Thee  more 


316  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 


and  more.  Speak  to  me  and  tell  me  what  Thou 
wishest  me  to  do.  I am  Thy  servant,  ready  to 
follow  Thee  and  willing  to  make  any  sacrifice  for 
love  of  Thee.  Establish  Thy  kingdom  firmly  in 
my  heart;  crush  out  its  self-love  and  pride.  I 
give  thanks  to  Thee,  O Lord,  for  condescending 
to  come  to  me  in  the  Sacrament  of  Thy  love  — 
to  me,  a sinner,  to  me,  so  wayward  and  unfaithful. 


^ARY,  my  queen,  my  mother,  and  all  ye 
angels  and  saints  of  heaven,  thank  the  Lord 
forme;  praise  Him  for  His  goodness;  bless  Him 
for  His  mercy. 


/'TXY  GOD!  I am  truly  sorry  for  having 
offended  Thee  because  Thou  art  infinitely 
good  and  worthy  of  all  my  love.  Oh,  how  often 
and  how  grievously  I have  sinned  against  Thee! 
Have  mercy  on  me,  and  according  to  the  multi- 
tude of  Thy  tender  mercies,  blot  out  my  iniquity. 
My  loving  Jesus,  out  of  the  grateful  love  I bear 
Thee,  and  to  make  reparation  for  my  unfaithful- 
ness to  grace,  I give  Thee  my  heart,  and  I conse- 
crate myself  wholly  to  Thee;  and  with  Thy  help 
I purpose  never  to  sin  again.  I will  do  all  things 
to  Thy  greater  glory.  I will,  indeed,  seek  to 
please  Thee  perfectly  in  thought,  word,  and  deed; 
and  I will  honor  Thee  especially  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist.  My  watchword  shall  be: 

“All  for  Thee , most  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus!” 

I AM  resolved  to  overcome  my  predominant 
passion  and  to  resist  every  evil  inclination  of 
my  heart.  For  love  of  Thee,  my  Lord  and  my 
God,  I will  also  be  kind  to  others  in  thought,  word, 
and  deed. 

Now,  my  good  Jesus,  I pray  Thee  to  bless  me; 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  317 

keep  me  in  Thy  love;  grant  me  the  grace  of  final 
perseverance.  Help  me  to  become  a saint. 

Safeguarded  by  Thee  in  soul  and  in  body,  may 
I never  swerve  from  the  right  road,  but  surely 
reach  Thy  kingdom,  where  — not  in  dim  mys- 
teries, as  in  this  dark  world  of  ours,  but  — face 
to  face  we  shall  look  upon  Thee.  There  wilt 
Thou  satisfy  me  with  Thyself  and  fill  me  with  such 
sweetness  that  I shall  neither  hunger  nor  thirst 
forevermore : Who  with  God  the  Father  and  the 
Holy  Ghost  livest  and  reignest  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

Su0ctpe 

*^AKE,  O Lord,  and  receive  all  my  liberty,  my 
VS)  memory,  my  understanding,  and  my  whole 
will.  Thou  hast  given  me  all  that  I am,  and  all 
that  I possess.  I surrender  it  all  to  Thee,  that 
Thou  mayest  dispose  of  it  according  to  Thy  will. 
Give  me  only  Thy  love  and  Thy  grace;  with  these 
I will  be  rich  enough,  and  will  have  no  more  to 
desire. — St.  Ignatius  Loyola. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  May  26,  1883. 

Cfje  antma  Cfjristt 

G^OUL  of  Christ,  sanctify  me. 

Body  of  Christ,  sa^fe  me. 

Blood  of  Christ,  inebriate  me. 

Water  from  the  side  of  Christ,  wash  me. 

Passion  of  Christ,  strengthen  me. 

O good  Jesus,  hear  me. 

Within  Thy  wounds  hide  me. 

Permit  me  not  to  be  separated  from  Thee. 

From  the  malignant  enemy  defend  me. 

In  the  hour  of  my  death  call  me. 


318  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

And  bid  me  come  to  Thee, 

That,  with  Thy  saints,  I may  praise  Thee 
Forever  and  ever.  Amen. 

Indulgences:  300  days,  each  time.  Seven  years,  if 
said  after  communion.  Plenary,  once  a month.  — 
Pius  IX,  Jan.  9,  1854. 


draper 

For  the  Church  and  the  Supreme  Pontiff;  for  Friends , 
Relatives , and  Benefactors;  and  for  the  Holy  Souls  in 
Purgatory . 

OM0ST  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  pour  down  Thy 
blessings  abundantly  upon  Thy  Church; 
upon  the  Supreme  Pontiff,  and  upon  all  the  clergy ; 
give  perseverance  to  the  just ; convert  sinners ; en- 
lighten unbelievers;  bless  our  parents,  friends, 
and  benefactors ; help  the  dying ; free  the  souls  in 
purgatory;  and  extend  over  all  hearts  the  sweet 
empire  of  Thy  love.  Amen. 

300  days,  once'a  day.  — Pius  X,  June  16,  1906. 


lEjacuIattan 


YVVINE  Heart  of  Jesus,  convert  sinners,  save 
the  dying,  deliver  the  holy  souls  from 
purgatory! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  6,  1906. 


@ Sacrum  Conbtfrium 

Ant.  SACRED  banquet,  in  which  Christ  is 
V-/  received,  the  memory  of  His  passion 
is  renewed,  the  mind  is  filled  with  grace,  and  a 
pledge  of  future  glory  is  given  to  us. 

V.  Thou  gavest  them  bread  from  heaven. 

R.  And  therein  was  sweetness  of  every  kind. 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  319 
Let  us  pray 

OG0D,  Who,  in  this  wonderful  sacrament,  hast 
left  us  a memorial  of  Thy  passion : grant  us, 
we  beseech  Thee,  so  to  venerate  the  sacred  mys- 
teries of  Thy  body  and  blood  that  we  may  ever 
feel  within  us  the  fruit  of  Thy  redemption. 

^ragcr  before  a Representation  of  3esus  Cructfieb 

OOK  down  upon  me,  good  and  gentle  Jesus, 
* while  before  Thy  face  I humbly  kneel,  and 
with  burning  soul  pray  and  beseech  Thee  to  fix 
deep  in  my  heart  lively  sentiments 

of  faith,  hope,  and  Jj|  charity,  true  con- 

trition for  my  sins  e^pjl and  a firm  pur- 
pose of  amend-  ment;  and  while 

I contemplate  IjL  with  great  love 

and  tender  pity  ra  Thy  five  wounds, 

pondering  over  If  them  within  me, 

and  calling  to  if  mind  the  words 

which  David,  Thy  H prophet,  said  of 

Thee,  my  Jesus:  “They  have 

pierced  My  hands  and  My  feet;  they  have  num- 
bered all  My  bones.”  (Ps.  xxi.  17,  18.) 

A plenary  indulgence,  applicable  to  the  souls  in  pur- 
gatory, may  be  gained  by  the  faithful  who,  after  having 
confessed  their  sins  with  sorrow  and  received  holy 
communion,  shall  devoutly  recite  this  prayer  before  an 
image  or  picture  of  Christ  crucified,  and  shall  pray  for 
the  intentions  of  the  Holy  Father.  — Pius  IX,  July  31, 
1858. 

Our  Father , Hail  Maryy  Glory , five  times  for 
the  intentions  of  the  Pope. 


320  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

Stager 1 

T7ESUS,  my  Master,  I am  not  my  own.  I have 
been  bought  at  a great  price  by  Thee!  I 
desire  not  henceforth  to  live  to  myself,  but  to 
Thee,  Who  hast  died  for  me.  My  life  and  my 
actions  I dedicate  to  Thee,  and  whatever  I do  in 
word  or  work  I sincerely  desire  and  firmly  resolve 
to  do  all  in  Thy  name.  My  Jesus!  this  is  all  I 
can  say.  Do  Thou  in  Thy  mercy  give  me  strength 
and  wisdom  to  accomplish  what  I have  resolved 
in  Thy  presence  this  day.  Jesus,  my  God!  Thou 
hast  told  me  in  Thine  unerring  word  to  cast  all 
my  care  upon  Thee,  because  Thou  hast  care  of 
me!  I do  so;  I cast  all  my  sorrows,  my  solici- 
tudes, and  my  uneasiness  upon  Thee.  On  my 
part,  I will  employ  myself  in  promoting  Thine 
honor  and  glory,  by  doing  everything  in  Thy  name. 
I know  that  on  Thine , Thou  wilt  take  into  Thy 
hands  all  that  concerns  me.  I will  attend  to 
Thee;  Thou  wilt  take  care  of  me.  Divine  Jesus! 
Sweet  Saviour  of  my  soul,  let  this  contract  be  in- 
violable and  eternal  between  us  — “I  to  my 
Beloved,  and  my  Beloved  to  me.”  Amen. 

1 Rev.  Robert  Haly,  S.  J.,  in  A Gleaner's  Sheaf. 


Bitotber  jforrn  of  Devotions  for  Ibolp 
Communion 

before  Communion 

2ln  act  of  Jattf)  anti  atioratton 

/TvY  LORD  Jesus  Christ,  I believe  that  Thou 
art  truly  present  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 
I believe  that  in  holy  communion  I shall  receive 
Thy  sacred  body  and  Thy  precious  blood.  My 
faith  in  Thy  real  presence  in  the  Holy  Eucharist 
is  firmly  founded  on  Thy  word,  O eternal  Truth. 
My  Saviour  and  my  God,  with  the  angels  who 
surround  Thy  altar-throne,  I bow  down  in  humble 
adoration  before  Thy  majesty. 

an  act  of  ?^o pc 

J7ESUS,  my  God,  Who  in  this  wonderful  sacra- 
c)  ment  hast  left  us  a memorial  of  Thy  passion 
and  a pledge  of  future  glory,  I hopfe  in  Thee  be- 
cause Thou  art  infinitely  good,  almighty,  and  faith- 
ful to  Thy  promises.  Through  the  merits  of  Thy 
precious  blood  I hope  to  obtain  the  pardon  of  my 
sins,  the  grace  of  final  perseverance,  and  the  ever- 
lasting happiness  of  heaven. 

“ In  the  shadow  of  Thy  wings  will  I hope,  until 
iniquity  pass  away.”  (Ps.  lvi.  2.) 

“ Let  Thy  mercy  come  upon  me,  O Lord;  Thy 
salvation,  according  to  Thy  word.”  (Ps.  cxviii. 
4i-) 

&n  &ct  of  3Lobc  anti  UBesite 

MY  Jesus,  I love  Thee  because  Thou  art  in- 
finitely  good.  Thou  knowest  well  that  I love 
Thee,  but  I do  not  love  Thee  enough.  Oh,  make 
321 


322  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

me  to  love  Thee  more!  O Love  which  burnest  I 
always  and  never  failest,  my  God,  Thou  Who  art 
charity  itself,  come,  and  kindle  in  my  heart  that 
divine  fire  which  consumes  the  saints  and  trans- 
forms them  into  Thee.  Come,  take  possession 
of  me.  Be  Thou,  O my  Love,  the  Life  of  my  life, 
that  so  each  day  my  heart  may  become  more  and 
more  like  Thine.  I give  myself  to  Thee.  I offer 
Thee  my  intellect  to  be  illuminated  by  Thee,  my 
heart  to  be  guided  by  Thee,  my  will  to  be  made 
strong  by  Thee,  my  misery  to  be  lightened  by 
Thee,  my  soul  and  my  body  to  be  nourished  by 
Thee.  Eucharistic  Heart  of  my  Jesus,  Whose 
blood  is  the  life  of  my  soul,  may  it  be  no  longer  I 
that  live,  but  do  Thou  alone  live  in  me. 

2U t of  Contrition 

^TwY  LORD  and  My  God,  I detest  all  the  sins 
of  my  life.  I am  truly  sorry  that  I have 
offended  Thee,  because  Thou  art  infinitely  good. 

I firmly  resolve,  by  the  help  of  Thy  grace,  never 
to  offend  Thee  again,  and  carefully  to  avoid  the 
occasions  of  sin.  “ Have  mercy  on  me,  O God, 
according  to  Thy  great  mercy.”  (Ps.  1.  3.)  “ A 

contrite  and  humble  heart,  O God,  Thou  dost  not 
despise.”  (Ps.  li.  19.) 

3n  Set  of  J^umtlttg 

“ LORD  of  glory,  O God  of  infinite  sanctity, 
who  am  I that  Thou  shouldst  deign  to  come 
to  me!  ” “ The  heavens  are  not  pure  in  Thy 

sight,”  and  wilt  Thou  dwell  in  my  heart  ? “ Lord, 

I am  not  worthy  that  Thou  shouldst  enter  under 
my  roof.”  The  consciousness  of  my  unworthiness 
would  prompt  me  to  exclaim,  “ Depart  from  me, 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  323 

O Lord,  for  I am  a sinner,”  but  Thy  pressing  in- 
vitation to  approach  Thy  holy  table  encourages 
me,  and  dispels  all  my  fears.  “ Here  I am,  for 
Thou  didst  call  me.”  Come,  then,  O Jesus,  take 
possession  of  a heart  that  wishes  to  belong  to 
Thee.  “ Create  in  me  a clean  heart,  O God,  and 
renew  a right  spirit  within  me.”  (Ps.  1.  12.) 
“ Have  mercy  on  me,  O God,  and  according  to 
the  multitude  of  Thy  tender  mercies  blot  out  my 
iniquity.”  (Ps.  1.  3.) 

0omme  Non  Sum  Dtgnus 


EORD,  I am  not  worthy  that  Thou  shouldst 
enter  under  my  roof;  but  only  say  the 
word,  and  my  soul  shall  be  healed. 

/T)AY  the  body  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  keep 
my  soul  unto  life  everlasting.  Amen. 


Bfter  Communion 


EMelcome 

3cts  of  jjaltfj,  SltJoratlon,  J^ope,  Hobc,  Consecration, 
Reparation,  anti  Cljanksgtbtng 


1* 


OW,  therefore,  your  King  is  here,  Whom 
you  have  chosen  and  desired.”  (1  Kings 


“ I will  extol  Thee,  O God,  my  King.”  (Ps. 
cxliv.)  “ The  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords.” 
(1  Tim.  vi.)  “ My  King  Who  is  in  His  sanc- 
tuary.” (Ps.  lxvii.) 

J7ESUS!  Jesus!  Jesus! 

J Thou  hast  come  to  me  in  the  sacrament  of 
Thy  love.  Thou  hast  been  pleased  to  make  my 
poor  heart  Thy  sanctuary. 


324  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 


Welcome,  Jesus,  welcome!  Thou  art  the  God 
of  my  heart,  and  the  God  that  is  my  portion  for 
ever.  I praise  Thee  and  bless  Thee  for  Thy 
goodness  and  mercy.  “ Let  all  Thy  works,  O 
Lord,  praise  Thee;  and  let  Thy  saints  bless  Thee.” 
(Ps.  cxliv.  io.) 


jfaitlj  attb  Sborattan 

ECEIVE,  O Lord,  my  most  profound  homage 
in  union  with  that  of  the  angels  and  the 
saints.  I bow  down  before  Thee,  and  with  all 
the  powers  of  my  soul  I adore  Thee.  Thou  art 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God. 

“ I see  not  with  mine  eyes  Thy  wounds,  as 
Thomas  saw, 

Yet  own  Thee  for  my  God  with  equal  love  and 
awe; 

Oh,  grant  me,  that  my  faith  may  ever  firmer  be, 
That  all  my  hope  and  love  may  still  repose  in 
Thee.”  — Annus  Sanctus . 

J7ESUS,  light  of  the  world,  I believe  in  Thee, 
e)  because  Thou  art  truth  itself,  but  do  Thou  in- 
crease and  invigorate  my  faith  that  it  may  be 
productive  of  great  things  to  Thy  glory.  Grant 
that  I may  do  all  things  to  please  Thee. 

“ Quid  hoc  ad  aeternitatem?  ” All  day  long, 
in  every  varying  circumstance,  may  my  watch- 
word be:  “ How  does  this  look  in  the  light  of 
eternity?  ” 

“ ^HOU  Who  of  old  didst  love  Thy  hand  to  lay 
On  the  dull,  vacant  eyes  that  craved  for 
light, 

Behold  I come  to  Thee,  and,  crying,  pray: 

O Christ,  O Son  of  David,  give  me  sight! 

“ A faith  scarce  clouded  by  the  mists  of  earth, 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  325 


A faith  that  pierceth  heaven  I ask  of  Thee, 
Faith  to  prize  all  things  by  their  lasting  worth: 
Thou  canst,  Thou  wilt 1 — O Lord,  that  I may 
see!  ” 

— Before  the  Most  Holy>  by  Mother  Mary  Loyola. 


“ 1 ^HOW,  O Lord,  Thy  ways  to  me,  and  teach 
me  Thy  paths.’  (Ps.  xxiv.  4.)  No  one 
knows  better  than  I how  blind  and  weak  I am, 
but  I wish  to  know,  I wish  to  see,  what  Thou  de- 
sirest  of  me,  and  I will  try  with  all  my  heart,  re- 
gardless of  all  obstacles,  to  accomplish  it.”  — 
Ibid . 

May  the  holy  faith  which  ever  illumines  my 
mind  shine  forth  in  all  my  actions  before  the 
world  to  the  glory  of  Thy  name. 


pfope 

J7ESUS,  I hope  in  Thee,  I put  all  my  trust  in 
Thee,  because  Thou  art  full  of  compassion  and 
mercy.  “ Thou  art  my  Father;  my  God,  and  the 
support  of  my  salvation.”  (Ps.  lxxxviii.  27.) 

“ The  Lord  is  my  shepherd:  I shall  want  noth- 
ing.” (Ps.  xxii.  1.)  “ I cried  unto  Thee,  O Lord, 

and  said:  Thou  art  my  hope,  my  portion  in  the 
land  of  the  living.”  (Ps.  cxli.  6.)  “ To  Thee, 

0 Lord,  have  I lifted  up  my  soul:  In  Thee,  O 
God,  I put  my  trust.”  (Ps.  xxiv.  1,  2.) 

Strengthen  my  hope,  O Lord,  and  vouchsafe  in 
Thy  mercy  that,  fighting  and  conquering  self  on 
earth,  I may  one  day  rejoice  triumphantly  with 
Thee  in  heaven. 

“ JESUS,  lying  here  concealed  before  mine 
W eye, 

1 pray  Thou  grant  me  that  for  which  I ceaseless 

sigh, 


326  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

To  see  the  vision  clear  of  Thine  unveiled  face, 
Blest  with  the  glories  bright  that  fill  Thy  dwelling- 
place. n — Annus  Sanctus. 

ULobz 

J7ESUS,  I love  Thee,  because  Thou  art  in- 
s)  finitely  good.  I love  Thee  because  Thou  hast 
redeemed  me  by  Thy  precious  blood;  I love  Thee 
and  thank  Thee  because  Thou  hast  given  Thyself 
to  me  in  the  sacrament  of  Thy  love. 

Oh,  grant  that  I may  love  Thee  ever  more  and 
more.  Thou  art  the  Lamb  of  God,  the  Lamb 
without  spot,  that  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 
world.  Take  away  from  me  whatever  is  hurtful 
to  me  and  displeasing  to  Thee,  and  give  me  what 
Thou  knowest  to  be  pleasing  to  Thee  and  profit- 
able to  me. 

May  the  sweet  flame  of  Thy  love  consume  my 
soul,  so  that  I may  die  to  the  world  for  love  of 
Thee,  Who  hast  vouchsafed  to  die  upon  the  cross 
for  love  of  me. 


Y God,  my  only  good,  Thou  art  all  mine: 
Grant  that  I may  be  all  Thine. 


ffionsecratton 

/''pkY  LOVING  Jesus,  out  of  the  grateful  love 
pJ-s  I bear  Thee,  and  to  make  reparation  for 
my  unfaithfulness  to  grace,  I give  Thee  my  heart, 
and  I consecrate  myself  wholly  to  Thee;  and  with 
Thy  help  I purpose  never  to  sin  again.  Dear 
Lord,  I could  never  vie  with  Thee  in  generosity, 
but  I love  Thee;  deign  to  accept  my  poor  heart, 
and,  though  it  is  worth  nothing,  yet  it  may  become 
something  by  Thy  grace.  Since  it  loves  Thee, 
do  Thou  make  it  good  and  take  it  into  Thy  custody. 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  327 
Separation1 

I HAVE  cause  indeed  to  love  Thee,  my  divine 
Master. 

“No  earthly  father  loves  like  Thee, 

No  mother  half  so  mild 
Bears  and  forbears,  as  Thou  hast  done, 
With  me,  Thy  sinful  child.” 

I tell  Thee  again  and  again,  my  Lord  and 
Saviour,  that  I love  Thee.  But  where  are  the 
proofs  ? Love  is  shown  by  deeds.  In  deed  and 
in  truth  Thou  hast  loved  me.  But  where  are  the 
proofs  of  my  love?  Resolutions  in  plenty  every 
morning,  but  when  the  evening  comes,  what 
have  I to  show,  what  have  I to  offer  but  weak- 
nesses, cowardices,  and  failures  ? And  yet  I love 
Thee,  dearest  Lord.  I wish  to  please  Thee;  for- 
give me  my  unfaithfulness.  Thou  knowest  my 
weaknesses,  O my  God,  and  Thou  knowest  my 
struggles  — have  mercy  on  me.  I am  sorry  that 
I have  offended  Thee.  Help  me  to  love  Thee 
better;  help  me  to  follow  Thee  more  closely. 
Jesus,  meek  and  humble  of  Heart,  make  my 
heart  like  unto  Thine. 

I shall  try  to  accept  my  failures  in  a deeply 
humble  spirit ; I shall  not  yield  to  discouragement, 
but  trusting  in  Thy  goodness,  in  Thy  love  and 
Thy  grace,  I shall  endeavor  daily  to  overcome  my 
weaknesses,  and  fight  on  calmly,  courageously, 
generously,  and  hopefully  to  the  end.  O Lord,  I 
am  willing  to  go  on  still  struggling  — fighting  hard 
constantly  to  the  last  moment  of  my  life;  and 
even  to  fail  constantly,  to  have  nothing  to  show 
but  defeat  and  failures,  provided  only  that  Thou 
art  glorified.  Omnia  ad  majorem  Dei  gloriam. 

1 From  Confession  and  Communion,  by  Mother  Mary 
Loyola  (adapted). 


328  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

^rager 

OL0RD  Jesus,  do  Thou  henceforth  alone  live 
within  me.  May  the  tongue  whereon  Thou 
hast  rested  never  move  to  utter  words  other  than 
such  as  would  proceed  from  Thy  meek  and 
humble  Heart.  May  the  thoughts  of  my  heart 
be  in  unison  with  Thine.  May  that  mind  which 
is  in  Thee  be  likewise  in  me.  May  I be  consumed 
with  the  same  desires;  may  I be  one  heart,  one 
soul  with  Thee,  O Jesus,  Whom  I bear  within  me. 
And  let  this  union  of  my  heart  with  Thine  shed 
its  influence  over  my  whole  life  and  conduct  at 
all  times  and  in  all  events,  that  so  I may  be  able 
to  draw  other  hearts  to  love  Thee,  and  to  devote 
themselves  to  Thy  interests.  This  is  the  desire, 
O my  Jesus,  with  which  Thou  dost  inspire  me  — 
that  Thy  sweet  name  may  be  hallowed,  that  Thy 
kingdom  may  come,  and  extend,  and  triumph  over 
all  hearts  and  nations,  and  that  Thy  will,  which  is 
ever  one  with  Thy  Father’s,  may  be  perfectly 
accomplished.  Amen,  Amen. 

— The  Voice  of  the  Sacred  Heart . 

“ Tu  es  ipse  Rex  meus  et  Deus  meus”  (Ps. 
xliii.  5.) 

Yes,  my  Jesus.  Thou  art  my  king  and  my 
God.  Reign  Thou  alone  over  my  heart  and  my 
whole  being. 

“ Servire  Deo  regnare  est .”  To  serve  Thee, 
O King  of  kings,  is  to  reign. 

Guide  my  steps  in  the  way  of  peace.  Make  me 
always  cleave  to  Thy  commandments,  and  never 
suffer  me  to  be  separated  from  Thee. 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  329 

• ©blatton1 

O SOVEREIGN  and  true  leader,  O Christ,  my 
king,  I kneel  before  Thee  here  like  a vassal 
in  the  old  feudal  times  to  take  my  oath  of  fealty. 
I place  my  joined  hands  within  Thy  wounded 
hands  and  promise  Thee  inviolable  loyalty.  I 
dedicate  to  Thee  all  the  powers  of  my  soul,  all  the 
senses  of  my  body,  all  the  affections  of  my  heart. 

>£^AKE,  O Lord,  all  my  liberty.  Receive  my 
memory,  my  understanding,  and  my  whole 
will.  All  that  I am,  all  that  I have,  Thou  hast 
given  me,  and  I restore  it  all  to  Thee,  to  be  dis- 
posed of  according  to  Thy  good  pleasure.  Give 
me  only  Thy  love  and  Thy  grace;  with  these  I 
am  rich  enough,  and  I desire  nothing  more. 


2Tl}ank0jp[tbtnjo[ 


“ 'T*  WILL  extol  Thee,  O God,  my  king,  and  I 
will  bless  Thy  name  forever;  yea,  forever 
and  ever.”  (Ps.  cxliv.  1.)  O ye  angels,  arch- 
angels, thrones  and  dominations,  principalities 
and  powers,  virtues  of  heaven,  cherubim  and  sera- 
phim, adore  our  God  for  me;  thank  Him,  and 
love  Him  with  me.  Patriarchs  and  prophets, 
apostles,  all  ye  martyrs  of  Christ,  holy  confessors, 
virgins  of  the  Lord,  and  all  ye  saints,  adore  Him, 
thank  Him,  love  Him  with  me. 


me, 


/TOOTHER  of  God,  adore  Thy  Son  for 
thank  Him,  and  love  Him,  for  me. 

Oh,  give  thanks  to  the  Lord  because  He  is  good, 
because  His  mercy  endureth  forever. 


1 Oblation  and  Thanksgiving,  adapted  from  Confession  and 
Communion,  by  Mother  Mary  Loyola. 


330  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

Eternal  Father,  look  upon  the  face  of  Thy  Christ. 
Through  Him  and  with  Him  and  in  Him  be  to  Thee 
in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Spirit  all  honor  and  glory. 

“To  the  King  of  ages,  immortal,  invisible,  the 
only  God,  be  honor  and  glory  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen.”  (i  Tim.  i.  17.) 

draper  of  St.  STfjomas  Squtna 0 

I GIVE  thanks  to  Thee,  O Lord,  most  holy, 
Father  almighty,  eternal  God,  that  Thou  hast 
vouchsafed,  for  no  merit  of  mine  own,  but  out  of 
Thy  pure  mercy,  to  appease  the  hunger  of  my  soul 
with  the  precious  body  and  blood  of  Thy  Son, 
Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Humbly  I implore  Thee,  let  not  this  holy  com- 
munion be  to  me  an  increase  of  guilt  unto  my 
punishment,  but  an  availing  plea  unto  pardon  and 
salvation.  Let  it  be  to  me  the  armor  of  faith  and 
the  shield  of  good  will.  May  it  root  out  from 
my  heart  all  vice;  may  it  utterly  subdue  my  evil 
passions  and  all  my  unruly  desires.  May  it  per- 
fect me  in  charity  and  patience,  in  humility  and 
obedience,  and  in  all  other  virtues.  May  it  be 
my  sure  defence  against  the  snares  laid  for  me 
by  my  enemies,  visible  and  invisible.  May  it  re- 
strain and  quiet  all  my  evil  impulses  and  make 
me  ever  cleave  to  Thee,  Who  art  the  one  true  God. 
May  I owe  to  it  a happy  ending  of  my  life.  And 
do  Thou,  O heavenly  Father,  vouchsafe  one  day 
to  call  me,  -a  sinner,  to  that  ineffable  banquet, 
where  Thou,  together  with  Thy  Son  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  art  to  Thy  saints  true  and  unfailing  light, 
fulness  of  content,  joy  forevermore,  gladness  with- 
out alloy,  consummate  and  everlasting  happiness. 
Through  the  same  Christ  Our  Lord.  Amen. 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  331 
©ffmrtp,  ®{jank0gtbtng,  an b petitions,  of  St, 

OMOST  holy  Father,  behold  I,  Thy  most  un- 
worthy servant,  trusting  only  in  Thine  in- 
effable compassion,  have  received  Thy  beloved 
Son,  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  even  now  hold 
Him  in  my  heart  as  my  own  possession,  most  in- 
timately united  with  me.  Wherefore,  receiving 
this  Thy  Son  into  my  arms,  even  as  did  holy 
Simeon,  I offer  Him  to  Thee  with  all  that  love 
and  that  fulness  of  intention  wherewith  He  offered 
Himself  to  Thee  for  Thine  everlasting  glory,  while 
lying  in  the  manger,  and  when  He  was  hanging 
upon  the  cross.  Look,  O compassionate  Father, 
on  this  offering,  which  I,  Thine  unworthy  servant, 
make  to  Thee,  my  living  and  true  God,  to  Thine 
everlasting  praise  and  glory,  for  Thine  infinite 
rejoicing  and  delight. 

I offer  to  Thee  the  same,  Thy  Son,  for  myself, 
and  for  all  those  for  whom  I am  accustomed  or 
bound  to  pray,  in  thanksgiving  for  all  the  benefits 
Thou  hast  bestowed  on  us,  and  in  reparation  for 
all  our  negligence  regarding  the  practice  of  virtues 
and  the  performance  of  good  works.  I offer  Him 
to  Thee  to  obtain  Thy  grace  and  Thy  mercy,  that 
we  may  be  preserved  and  delivered  from  all  evil 
and  sin,  succored  in  every  necessity  of  body  or  of 
soul,  and  brought  forth  through  a happy  death 
into  everlasting  joys.  ‘Finally,  I offer  Him  to 
Thee  for  the  remission  of  all  my  sins,  and  in  satis- 
faction for  that  huge  debt  which  I cannot  pay 
Thee,  seeing  that  it  far  exceeds  even  ten  thousand 
talents;  humbly  casting  myself  at  Thy  feet,  O 
most  merciful  Father,  I acknowledge  and  plead 
my  utter  poverty,  in  union  with  the  bitterness  of 


332  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

the  passion  of  Thy  most  sinless  Son,  in  Whom 
Thou  hast  declared  Thyself  well  pleased;  and  in 
and  through  Him  I make  Thee  full  reparation  and 
satisfaction  for  my  sins,  offering  Thee  all  His  sor- 
rows, griefs,  and  tears,  and  all  that  expiation 
which  He  made  upon  the  cross  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world. 

Remember,  also,  O Lord,  Thy  servants  who 
have  gone  before  us  with  the  sign  of  faith,  and 
sleep  the  sleep  of  peace;  for  all  and  each  of  whom 
(and  especially  for  N.)  I offer  Thee  that  saving 
victim  Whom  I have  now  received,  the  body  and 
blood  of  Thy  beloved  Son;  beseeching  Thee,  that 
through  His  infinite  dignity  and  worth,  and 
through  the  merits  of  all  saints,  Thou  wouldst 
grant  them  pardon  of  all  their  sins,  and  merciful 
release  from  all  their  pains.  Amen. 

Minima  (ttjrteti,  Sancttfica  fH z 

^^OUL  of  Christ,  be  my  sanctification. 

Body  of  Christ,  be  my  salvation. 

Blood  of  Christ,  fill  all  my  veins. 

Water  of  Christ’s  side,  wash  out  my  stains. 
Passion  of  Christ,  my  comfort  be. 

O good  Jesu,  listen  to  me. 

In  Thy  wounds  I fain  would  hide, 

Ne’er  to  be  parted  from  Thy  side. 

Guard  me  should  the  foe  assail  me. 

Call  me  when  my  life  shall  fail  me. 

Bid  me  come  to  Thee  above, 

With  Thy  saints  to  sing  Thy  love 
World  without  end.  Amen. 

Cardinal  Newman’s  translation 

Indulgences:  300  days,  each  time.  Seven  years,  if 
said  after  communion.  Plenary,  once  a month.  — 
Pius  IX,  Jan.  9,  1854. 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  333 

■^rager  to  Sesug  in  t Ijc  Sacrament  of  tl )e  $Utat 

PEAR  Jesus,  present  in  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Altar,  be  forever  thanked  and  praised. 
Love,  worthy  of  all  celestial  and  terrestrial  love, 
Who,  out  of  infinite  love  for  me,  ungrateful  sinner, 
didst  assume  our  human  nature,  didst  shed  Thy 
most  precious  blood  in  the  cruel  scourging,  and 
didst  expire  on  a shameful  cross  for  our  eternal 
welfare!  Now,  illumined  with  lively  faith,  with 
the  outpouring  of  my  whole  soul  and  the  fervor 
of  my  heart,  I humbly  beseech  Thee,  through  the 
infinite  merits  of  Thy  painful  sufferings,  give  me 
strength  and  courage  to  destroy  every  evil  passion 
which  sways  my  heart,  to  bless  Thee  in  my 
greatest  afflictions,  to  glorify  Thee  by  the  exact 
fulfilment  of  all  my  duties,  supremely  to  hate  all 
sin,  and  thus  to  become  a saint. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Jan.  1,  1866. 


(Ejaculations 

jQfUCHARISTIC  Heart  of  Jesus,  have  mercy  on 
" us! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Dec.  26,  1907. 


D 


IVINE  Heart  of  Jesus,  convert  sinners,  save 
the  dying,  set  free  the  holy  souls  in  purga- 


tory. 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  6,  1906. 


Ptaget  to  tljc  Sacreb  J^cart  of  3esus 

MOST  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  pour  down 
Thy  blessings  abundantly  upon  Thy  Church, 
upon  the  Supreme  Pontiff,  and  upon  all  the  clergy; 
give  perseverance  to  the  just,  convert  sinners, 


334  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

enlighten  unbelievers,  bless  our  parents,  friends, 
and  benefactors,  help  the  dying,  free  the  souls  in 
purgatory,  and  extend  over  all  hearts  the  sweet 
empire  of  Thy  love.  Amen. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  X,  June  16,  1906. 

JEfjanksgibmg  anti  Petition* 

/TvY  DEAR  Lord  Jesus,  it  is  not  in  my  power 
to  show  my  gratitude  to  Thee  in  any  way 
that  is  worthy  of  Thee  or  in  proportion  to  Thy 
goodness  in  deigning  to  come  to  me,  Thy  poor 
creature,  but  I do  thank  Thee  with  all  my  heart, 
and  with  grateful  affection  I offer  Thee  my  will, 
my  liberty,  myself  — all  that  I am  and  all  that  I 
have.  From  this  day  forward  I will  be  no  longer 
my  own,  but  Thine,  entirely  Thine. 

I love  Thee,  O adorable  Saviour,  and  because 
I love  Thee  I am  resolved  to  keep  Thy  holy  law 
in  the  midst  of  my  heart;  because  I love  Thee  I 
am  inconsolable  at  the  sight  of  so  many  offences 
committed  against  Thee,  and  burn  with  a desire 
of  atoning  for  them  in  future.  Come,  adversity, 
dangers,  troubles  — come,  hunger,  persecutions, 
and  the  sword  — I defy  and  despise  you  all. 
Which  of  you  shall  be  able  to  separate  me  from 
the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus?  Be 
Thou  alone,  dear  Jesus,  my  defence  and  my  only 
fear.  I dread  not  a life  of  tribulations,  provided 
my  tribulations  be  endured  for  Thee;  I fear  not 
even  death  itself,  provided  I die  in  Thee  and  for 
Thee.  To  live  or  to  die  is  my  gain,  if,  living  and 
dying,  I give  glory  to  Thee,  and  persevere  in  Thy 
holy  grace. 

Since,  dear  Jesus,  Thou  hast  visited  my  soul 
to  heal  its  infirmities,  deliver  me,  I beseech  Thee, 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  335 

from  my  evil  habits,  which  Thou  knowest  well. 
Eradicate  and  expel  them  from  my  heart,  and  in 
their  place  sow  the  fruitful  seeds  of  virtue.  I 
seek  not  the  goods  of  this  earth,  honors,  pleasures, 
or  riches;  I ask  only  through  the  merits  of  Thy 
passion  a great  sorrow  for  my  sins.  Give  me 
light  by  which  I may  be  enabled  to  discover  the 
vanity  of  the  world  and  to  see  that  Thou  deservest 
to  be  loved  with  my  whole  heart  and  with  my 
whole  strength.  Detach  me  from  all  earthly 
affections  and  bind  me  to  Thy  holy  love  so  that  I 
may  will  only  what  Thou  wiliest.  Give  me  pa- 
tience and  resignation  in  infirmity,  in  poverty, 
and  in  all  things  which  are  contrary  to  my  self- 
love.  Give  me  mildness  towards  those  who  insult 
and  despise  me.  Let  not  any  earthly  object  make 
me  waver  in  my  resolutions  or  render  me  faithless 
to  Thy  holy  love.  Complete  the  work  Thou  hast 
begun  in  me  by  daily  sanctifying  me  more  and 
more.  Place  a guard  upon  my  lips,  so  that  they 
may  never  utter  any  words  which  savor  of  detrac- 
tion, indecency,  anger,  pride,  or  falsehood.  Pre- 
serve my  eyes  from  vain  and  dangerous  curiosity, 
and  grant  that  they  may  henceforth  weep  bitterly 
over  the  offences  which  are  committed  against 
Thy  supreme  majesty.  Bless  my  heart,  which 
Thou  hast  chosen  for  Thy  habitation,  and  make  it 
always  the  seat  of  Thy  grace.  Never,  O Lord, 
let  me  be  separated  from  Thee!  Give  me  the 
grace  to  be  ever  mindful  of  Thy  benefits,  ever  to 
appreciate  Thy  maxims,  ever  to  imitate  Thy  ex- 
ample, to  live  with  Thee,  to  die  for  Thee,  and  to 
reign  eternally  with  Thee  in  Thy  holy  love. 

[Here  pause  a little,  and  ask  for  some  particular 
grace  for  yourself  and  for  your  neighbors.  Offer 


336  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

your  petitions  to  our  dear  Lord  with  perfect  resig- 
nation to  His  holy  will;  rest  assured  that  He  will 
give  and  do  what  is  best  for  you;  fail  not  to  repeat 
again  and  again  the  petitions  which  He  Himself 
has  put  upon  our  lips:  “ Hallowed  be  Thy  name; 
Thy  kingdom  come;  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth 
as  it  is  in  heaven.”  Pray  for  the  Pope’s  intention, 
which  always  includes  the  following  objects: 
i.  The  progress  of  the  Faith  and  triumph  of  the 
Church,  ii.  Peace  and  union  among  Christian 
princes  and  rulers,  iii.  The  conversion  of  sinners, 
iv.  The  uprooting  of  heresy. 

Be  mindful,  also,  of  the  poor  souls  in  purga- 
tory.] 

OM0ST  holy  Mary,  my  mother  and  my  hope, 
obtain  for  me  the  graces  which  I desire; 
obtain  for  me  the  grace  of  loving  thee  sincerely, 
and  of  recommending  myself  to  thee  in  all  my 
necessities.  — Anima  Divota. 

Inbulgcnceb  ^rager  to  it  Satb  after  f^alg  (Tom* 
mtmtan 

,T^OW  full  of  delight  is  the  sweetness  of  Thy 
heavenly  bread!  How  admirable  is  the 
tranquillity  and  how  complete  the  peace  of  those 
who  receive  Thee,  after  detesting  and  sincerely 
confessing  their  sins.  Be  Thou  blessed  a thou- 
sand times,  my  Jesus!  When  I was  in  sin,  I was 
unhappy.  Now  not  only  do  I find  my  soul  tran- 
quil, but  I seem  to  enjoy  a very  foretaste  of  the 
peace  of  paradise.  How  true  it  is  that  our  hearts 
are  made  for  Thee,  my  beloved  Lord,  and  that 
they  rejoice  only  when  they  repose  in  Thee.  I, 
then,  render  Thee  thanks,  and  firmly  purpose  ever 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  337 

to  fly  sin  and  its  occasions,  to  fix  my  abode  in  Thy 
divine  Heart,  and  thence  to  look  for  help  to  love 
Thee  until  death.  Amen. 

300  days  if  said  after  communion.  — Leo  XIII,  June 
2,  1896. 

Praget  for  Perseverance 

aS  OOD  Jesus,  what  strength  Thou  hast  im- 
vi)  parted  to  my  soul  in  this  sacred  banquet! 
But,  oh,  how  much  I need  it.  Keep  me  in  Thy 
love ; keep  me  in  Thy  grace  to  the  end  of  my  life. 
The  road  I have  to  traverse  is  so  difficult,  that 
without  Thee  I should  fear  to  venture  upon  it.  In 
a short  time  I shall  return  to  my  daily  occupations ; 
I shall  continue  my  life  of  yesterday;  I shall  be 
exposed  to  the  same  temptations,  I shall  find 
myself  with  my  usual  faults.  But  Jesus,  Thou 
Who  didst  help  the  saints,  Thou  hast  come  to  me. 
Stay,  oh,  stay  with  me,  and  do  Thou  by  Thy  grace 
help  me  to  preserve  in  all  my  words  and  actions 
modesty,  meekness,  and  humility.  Help  me  to 
make  Thy  presence  within  me  visible  to  all;  let 
others  see  in  me  the  sweetness  of  Thy  charity 
and  kindness. 


^Ejaculations 

rrESUS,  meek  and  humble  of  Heart,  make  my 
J heart  like  unto  Thine! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  September  15,  1905. 


Sweet  Heart  of  Jesus,  be  my  love! 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  May  21,  1892. 

Sweet  Heart  of  Mary,  be  my  salvation! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  September  20,. 
1852. 


338  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

21  pienarg  Eubulgence  at  tfje  Jffour  of  lieatfj 

By  a decree  of  the  Sacred  Congregation  of  Indul- 
gences of  March  9,  1904,  His  Holiness,  Pope  Pius  X, 
granted  a plenary  indulgence  at  the  moment  of  death 
to  all  the  faithful  who,  on  any  day  they  may  choose, 
shall  receive  the  sacraments  of  Penance  and  Holy 
Eucharist  and  make  the  following  act  with  sincere  love 
toward  God. 


OL0RD  my  God,  I now  at  this  moment  readily 
and  willingly  accept  at  Thy  hand  whatever 
kind  of  death  it  may  please  Thee  to  send  me,  with 
all  its  pains,  penalties,  and  sorrows. 


Or  the  following: 


LORD  God,  even  now  resignedly  and 
willingly,  I accept  at  Thy  hand,  with  all  its 
anxieties,  pains,  and  sufferings,  whatever  kind  of 
death  it  shall  please  Thee  to  be  mine. 


2El)ank0gtbmg  to  tlje  p^olg  SErmttg1 

y^TERNAL  Father,  I thank  Thee  for  the  gift 
that  Thou  hast  given  me.  It  is  Thy  beloved 
Son,  in  Whom  Thou  art  well  pleased.  In  Him 
and  by  Him  give  me  strength  to  keep  all  my  good 
resolutions. 

Eternal  Son,  I thank  Thee  for  the  gift  that 
Thou  hast  given  me.  It  is  Thyself  Who  didst  die 
for  me.  Make  me,  dear  Jesus,  wiser  with  Thy 
heavenly  wisdom,  and  show  me  clearly  all  the 
things  I should  do  for  God. 

Eternal  Spirit,  I thank  Thee  for  the  gift  that 
Thou  hast  given  me.  It  is  Jesus,  whose  soul 
Thou  didst  sanctify  with  Thy  holiest  treasures. 

1 From  The  Bread  of  Life,  by  Father  Rawes. 


DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION  339 

Make  me,  dear  Spirit,  more  loving,  that  I may 
cling  more  closely  to  God.  , 

O ever-blessed  Trinity,  three  Persons  and  one 
God,  help  me  to  live  according  to  this  gift  of  gifts 
which  I have  received  at  the  altar  of  Jesus. 


Intmlgertcrb  draper  to  3e0U0  ’Cnictfieb1 

EOOK  down  upon  me,  good  and  gentle  Jesus, 
while  before  Thy  face  I humbly  kneel,  and 
with  burning  soul  pray  and  beseech  Thee  to  fix 


deep  in  my  heart 
of  faith,  hope, 
contrition  for 
firm  purpose  of 
while  I contem- 
love  and  tender 
wounds,  ponder  - 
within  me,  and 
the  words  which 
et  said  of  Thee, 
have  pierced  My  hands  and  My  feet;  they  have 
numbered  all  My  bones.”  (Ps.  xxi.  17,  18.) 

Our  Father , Hail  Mary , Glory , five  times,  for 
the  intentions  of  the  Pope. 

The  Raccolta  gives  the  following  version  of  the  prayer 
“ En  Ego 


lively  sentiments 
and  charity,  true 
my  sins,  and  a 
amendment;  and 
plate  with  great 
pity  Thy  five 
ing  over  them 
calling  to  mind 
David  Thy  proph- 
my  Jesus:  “They 


GOOD  and  sweetest  Jesus,  before  Thy  face 
I humbly  kneel,  and  with  the  greatest  fervor 
of  spirit  I pray  and  beseech  Thee  to  vouchsafe  to 

1 A plenary  indulgence,  applicable  to  the  souls  in  purga- 
tory, may  be  gained  by  the  faithful  who,  after  having  con- 
fessed their  sins  with  sorrow  and  received  holy  communion, 
shall  devoutly  recite  this  prayer  before  an  image  or  picture 
of  Christ  crucified,  and  shall  pray  for  the  intentions  of  the 
Holy  Father.  — Pius  IX,  July  31,  1858. 


340  DEVOTIONS  FOR  HOLY  COMMUNION 

fix  deep  in  my  heart  lively  sentiments  of  faith, 
hope,  and  charity,  true  contrition  for  my  sins,  and 
a most  firm  purpose  of  amendment  ; whilst  I con- 
template with  great  sorrow  and  affection  Thy  five 
wounds,  and  ponder  them  over  in  my  mind,  hav- 
ing before  my  eyes  the  words  which,  long  ago, 
David  the  prophet  spoke  in  Thy  own  person  con- 
cerning Thee,  my  Jesus:  “They  have  pierced 
My  hands  and  My  feet;  they  have  numbered  all 
My  bones.”  (Ps.  xxi.  17,  18.) 

Our  Father , Hail  Mary , Glory , five  times,  for 
the  intentions  of  the  Pope. 


praters  anb  ©emotions  for  Visits  to 
tbe  Blesseb  Sacrament,  tbe  Ibour 
of  Bboratton,  anb  tbe  Ibolp  t)our 

fHcmtents  Before  t \)z  SEabernacle 

IN  my  moments  before  the  tabernacle  I will 
try  to  obey  the  pious  counsels  contained  in 
the  Latin  distich: 

“ Crede , dole , spera , grates  age , dilige , adora, 
Vulnera  pande  animae , donaque  sancta  pete” 

“ Believe,  and  grieve,  and  hope;  thank,  love,  adore, 
Show  your  soul’s  wounds,  and  holy  gifts  implore.” 

BELIEVING  all  that  Thou,  my  God,  hast  in 
any  way  revealed  to  us  — grieving  for  all 
my  sins,  offences,  and  negligences  — hoping  in 
Thee,  O Lord,  Who  wilt  never  let  me  be  con- 
founded — thanking  Thee  for  this  supreme  gift, 
and  for  all  the  gifts  of  Thy  goodness  — loving 
Thee,  above  all  in  this  sacrament  of  Thy  love  — 
adoring  Thee  in  this  deepest  mystery  of  Thy  con- 
descension: I lay  before  Thee  all  the  wounds 
and  wants  of  my  poor  soul,  and  ask  for  all  that  I 
need  and  desire.  But  I need  only  Thyself,  O 
Lord;  I desire  none  but  Thee  — Thy  grace,  and 
the  grace  to  use  well  thy  graces,  the  possession 
of  Thee  by  grace  in  this  life,  and  the  possession  of 
Thee  forever  in  the  eternal  kingdom  of  Thy  glory. 
Thus,  day  by  day,  especially  during  my  moments 
before  the  tabernacle,  I will 

“ Believe,  and  grieve,  and  hope  ; thank,  love,  adore, 
Show  my  soul’s  wounds,  and  holy  gifts  implore.” 

34i 


342 


JESUS  IS  WAITING 

There  is  no  aspect  of  God’s  love  for  us  which 
ought  to  affect  our  hearts  more  tenderly  than  the 
mere  fact  of  His  wishing  to  be  loved  by  us;  and 
there  is  no  manifestation  of  that  tenderness  of 
the  Sacred  Heart  more  touching  than  the  yearn- 
ing to  be  remembered,  expressed  at  many  times 
and  in  many  ways,  but  especially  in  the  Eucha- 
ristic “Do  this  in  commemoration  of  Me”  which 
becomes  at  the  altar  even  more  simple  and  affect- 
ing, “ In  Mei  memoriamfacietis  ” — “ In  memory 
of  Me.”  When  such  infinite  and  utterly  incom- 
prehensible love  as  this  has  Omnipotence  for  the 
instrument  of  its  behests,  how  can  any  poor  little 
creature  of  God  — whose  sole  dignity  is  that  he 
has  a heart  to  love  Him  — how  can  he  presume 
for  one  moment  to  discuss  the  limits  of  the  pos- 
sibilities of  the  divine  condescension? 

— Fr.  Russell,  S.  J. 

Jeens  la  Waiting  In  Ibla  ©daon  of  Xove1 

“ / was  in  Prison,  and  ye  did  not  visit  Me  ” 

77ESUS  is  waiting.  This  is  not  an  inspired  text  of 
J Sacred  Scripture,  but  only  a sort  of  catchword, 
watchword,  mnemonic,  for  which  I am  going  to  crave 
a lodging  in  your  heart,  dear  reader,  in  the  hope  that  it 
may  sometimes  waken  holy  echoes  there. 

The  phrase,  Jesus  is  waiting , calls  up  before  the 
mind  two  distinct  pictures,  both  of  which  have  been 
set  before  the  eye  also  by  painter  and  engraver.  Upon 
one  of  these  pictures  might  be  inscribed  these  words 
that  occur  near  the  end  of  the  third  chapter  of  Apoc- 
alypse, “ Behold,  I stand  at  the  door  and  knock  ” — 
warning  words  which  the  Son  of  man  bade  St.  John 
write  to  the  bishop  of  the  Church  of  Laodicea,  just  after 
that  denunciation  of  his  lukewarmness,  which  is  one  of 

1 Vide  Ch.  I.,  Jesus  is  Waiting,  by  Fr.  M.  Russell,  S.  J. 


IN  HIS  PRISON  OF  LOVE 


343 


the  most  common  as  well  as  the  most  frightening  of 
scriptural  quotations.  Under  the  other  picture  might 
be  written  the  reproach  which  Our  Saviour  has  told  us 
He  will  address  to  the  reprobate  when  He  becomes 
our  Judge:  “ I was  in  prison,  and  ye  did  not  visit  Me.” 

A modem  painter,  the  most  religious  that  Protestant 
England  has  produced  — Holman  Hunt  — has  tried  to 
realize  the  first  of  these  conceptions  in  a picture  which 
through  engravings  is  familiar  to  many  of  us  who  have 
never  seen  the  original  canvas.1  It  is  called  “ The 
Light  of  the  World,”  and  it  represents  Jesus  Christ 
standing  outside  a closed  door  and  waiting  patiently. 
The  other  idea  is  made  visible,  as  it  were,  and  palpable 
in  a little  engraving  called  “ The  Prisoner  of  Love,”  in 
which  our  blessed  Lord  is  depicted  as  a captive  behind 
the  prison-bars  of  the  tabernacle.  Let  us  fix  our  gaze 
for  a little  on  these  two  pictures,  one  after  the  other. 

“ Behold,  I stand  at  the  door  and  knock.”  What 
door  is  this  ? The  door  of  our  hearts ; and  it  is  Jesus 
Who  seeks  an  entrance  there.  Jesus  is  waiting . 
Have  we  kept  Him  waiting  long?  An  interval  that  is 
not  really  long  will  seem  long  in  such  circumstances. 
Five  minutes  on  the  doorstep  appear  longer  than  half 
an  hour  in  the  parlor  or  dining-room.  I know  a man 
— scio  hominem  — who,  when  he  adverts  to  the  fact 
that  his  delay  outside  a hall-door  has  been  unduly  pro- 
longed, begins  at  once  to  say  very  slowly  three  Hail 
Marys,  and,  if  the  third  Hail  Mary  at  furthest  is  not 
interrupted  by  any  sign  of  life  within,  he  turns  on  his 
heel  and  departs  in  peace.  Yes,  we  have  all  found 
sometimes  that  a very  few  moments  will  seem  very 
tedious  when  we  have  knocked,  and  perhaps  knocked 
a second  time,  and  the  door  remains  closed  against  us, 
and  no  sound  of  approaching  footsteps  is  heard  from 
within,  and  there  we  are,  still  left  standing  outside,  per- 
haps in  the  cold  wind  and  rain.  But  how  much  worse 
it  would  be  if  the  visitor  had  given  notice  of  his  coming, 
and  knew  that  his  friend  was  at  home  at  the  time  and 
that  admittance  was  purposely  refused  to  him  through 
1 Now  at  Keble  College,  Oxford. 


344 


JESUS  IS  WAITING 

unkindness,  through  unwillingness  to  see  him,  through 
a stern  resolve  not  to  grant  the  favor  that  the  visitor 
had  come  to  seek  ? 

“ These  things  are  said  for  a parable.”  (Gal.  iv.  24.) 
Alas!  how  often  is  this  picture  realized  in  the  history 
of  God’s  dealings  with  the  souls  of  men!  How  often 
has  it  been  realized  in  God’s  dealings  with  us!  “ Be- 
hold, I stand  at  the  door  and  knock.”  Jesus  is  waiting. 
How  patiently  He  has  waited,  and  how  long!  In  all 
the  hours  and  days  that  the  clocks  and  watches  of  the 
universe  have  measured,  minute  by  minute,  since  that 
undefined  moment  long  ago  which  first  found  our  minds 
developed  enough  to  understand  right  and  wrong,  to 
know  God’s  rights  and  dictates  of  conscience,  to  be 
capable  of  sin  — every  hour  since  that  long-past  hour, 
Jesus  has  stood  at  the  door  and  knocked;  God  has 
spoken  to  our  hearts  interiorly  by  the  impulses  of  His 
grace,  and  externally  through  various  influences  and 
instruments.  Have  we  opened  at  the  first  knock? 
Have  we  not  rather  tried  not  to  hear,  pretended  not  to 
hear,  the  call  of  God,  no  matter  how  clear  and  loud  it 
rang  in  our  hearts,  instead  of  listening  eagerly  to  catch 
the  faintest  whisper  of  the  divine  voice?  “ To-day,  if 
you  shall  hear  His  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts.”  (Ps. 
xciv.  8.) 

For  us,  however,  as  we  kneel  before  the  altar,  it  is 
more  natural  to  give  the  other  meaning  to  the  little 
spiritual  mnemonic  that  is  guiding  our  thoughts;  it  is 
easier  to  picture  Jesus  to  ourselves  appealing  to  us  from 
within  rather  than  as  seeking  admission  from  without. 
Here,  indeed,  in  the  tabernacle  Jesus  is  waiting  — 
waiting  to  be  visited  by  us,  waiting  to  receive  us,  wait- 
ing to  do  us  good.  He  will  not  keep  us  out  in  the  cold, 
when  we  come.  “ Knock  and  it  shall  be  opened  to 
you.” 

Let  us  rise  from  human  things  to  divine  things  by 
trying  to  bring  home  to  ourselves  the  sense  of  in- 
gratitude and  guilt  and  shame  which  we  should  surely 
feel  if  we  ever  dared  to  treat  any  of  our  fellow-creatures, 
our  human  friends,  as  we  have  too  often  treated  our 


IN  ms  PRISON  OF  LOVE 


345 


divine  friend,  our  Saviour,  our  Lord,  and  our  God.  If 
we  cannot  be  angry  enough  with  ourselves,  we  can  at 
least  feel  a generous  indignation  against  others  when 
they  are  guilty  of  such  ingratitude  toward  mother  or 
sister  or  wife:  for  it  is  from  only  such  as  these  that  we 
can  expect  the  patient  love  which  is  strong  enough  to 
survive  years  of  selfish  indulgence  and  heartless  folly 
and  cruel  neglect.  Mother  or  wife  or  sister  waiting 
alone  at  home,  far  into  the  night,  waiting  for  the  son  or 
husband  or  brother,  spendthrift  perhaps  and  profligate, 
who  is  brute  enough  to  take  what  he  calls  his  pleasure 
at  the  expense  of  the  pain  and  anguish  of  those  whom 
he  is  bound  to  love  — heroic  patience,  sublime  forbear- 
ance, are  exercised  in  circumstances  like  these,  day 
after  day,  night  after  night,  in  many  a humble  home 
which  for  the  sake  of  such  virtues  is  dearer  to  God 
than  palace  or  senate  house.  Again,  “ these  things  are 
said  for  a parable.”  These  lonely  watchers  might  well 
seek  their  strength  in  the  thought  of  the  patient  vigils 
kept  by  Our  Lord  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  where  “ He 
sleeps  while  His  Heart  is  watching.”  As  we  can  not 
but  feel  sympathy  and  pity  for  the  poor  woman  who 
has  to  keep  watch  through  the  lonely,  comfortless  hours 
that  were  meant  for  holy  sleep,  waiting  for  the  too  often 
worthless  creature  on  whom  such  wealth  of  affection  is 
wasted:  so  let  us  excite  in  our  hearts  some  such  com- 
passion for  the  divine  Prisoner  of  Love,  Who,  out  of 
love  of  His  ungrateful  creatures,  is  waiting  night  and 
day  in  the  Most  Adorable  Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  wait- 
ing for  visits  that  are  not  paid,  for  prayers  and  petitions 
that  are  not  offered,  for  love  that  is  not  felt,  alas!  or  at 
least  not  shown. 

I do  not  .know  who  it  was  that  first  bestowed  upon 
Our  Lord,  thus  waiting  for  us  in  the  tabernacle,  the  sug- 
gestive title  of  the  Prisoner  of  Love.  The  Redemptorist 
lay-Brother  lately  canonized,  St.  Gerard  Majella,  seems 
to  have  used  it  from  his  twelfth  year  out  of  his  own 
devotion;  and  in  Father  Magnier’s  short  sketch  of 
his  life  the  expression  “ Prisoner  of  Love  ” is  purposely 
repeated  six  or  seven  times.  But  probably  this  pa- 


346  JESUS  IS  WAITING 

thetic  name  had  occurred  to  many  another  before  him: 
for  Jesus,  abiding  constantly  on  our  altars  at  the  dis- 
posal of  and  for  the  service  of  His  poor,  sinful  creatures, 
may  surely  be  called  a prisoner;  and  what  can  hold 
Him  imprisoned  there  except  His  love  for  us?  Who 
can  His  jailer  be  but  only  Love  ? 

This  is  the  character  under  which  our  blessed  Sa- 
viour is  set  before  our  eyes  in  the  little  engraving  which 
I described  at  the  beginning,  and  of  which  I once 
attempted  a fuller  interpretation  in  this  form: 

“ A holy  picture  bears  this  name,  The  Prisoner  of 
Love . 

’Tis  Thou  Who  reignest,  mighty  God!  in  majesty 
above, 

Yet  hidest  in  this  holy  shrine,  Love’s  captive,  for  my 
sake. 

Sweet  Jesus,  may  my  heart  its  home  within  Thy 
prison  make  ? 

“ Let  not  my  cold  and  selfish  heart  earn  this  reproach 
from  Thee: 

* I was  in  prison  once,  and  thou  — thou  didst  not  visit 
Me.’ 

Lord,  Thou  art  here  for  my  love’s  sake,  and  I am  here 
for  Thine: 

Make  me  Thine  own,  and,  as  Thou  wilt,  dispose  of 
me  and  mine. 

4i  I,  too,  a prisoner  of  love,  will  here  in  peace  abide 

Until  Thy  welcome  messenger  shall  call  me  to  Thy 
side.” 

(God’s  messenger  is  death.  May  he  be  a welcome 
messenger  for  each  of  us  when  he  comes!  . May  we  be 
able  to  receive  him  with  “ a hundred  thousand  wel- 
comes,” the  cead  mille  failte  of  fervent  Irish  hearts! 
And  meanwhile,  to  finish  the  very  simple  lines  that  I 
am  quoting,  let  us  say  to  Our  Lord:) 

“ I place  in  trust  within  Thy  Heart,  than  mother’s  heart 
more  fond, 


IN  HIS  PRISON  OF  LOVE  347 

My  past,  my  future,  life  and  death,  and  all  that  waits 
beyond, 

These  fleeting  hours  lead  quickly  on  to  the  eternal 
years : 

May  each  be  filled  with  faith  and  love,  meek  prayers 
and  holy  tears. 

And  while  I linger  like  caged  bird  that  pines  to  soar 
above, 

Captive  divine!  Oh,  keep  me  here,  the  captive  of  Thy 
love!  ” 

Yes,  Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is,  indeed,  the 
Prisoner  of  Love;  and  this  divine  captive  must  make 
us  in  return  the  willing  captives  of  His  love.  Of  old 
it  was  prophesied  of  the  future  Redeemer,  and  St.  Paul, 
writing  to  the  Christians  of  Ephesus  (Eph.  iv.  8),  re- 
peats the  word  of  the  Psalmist  after  the  prophecy  had 
been  fulfilled  in  the  glorious  mystery  of  the  ascension: 
“ Ascending  on  high,  Thou  hast  led  captivity  captive.” 
Not  only  ascending  but  descending,  not  only  ascending 
on  high  but  descending  to  this  low  estate,  coming  down 
from  His  heavenly  throne  to  this  prison-house  of  love, 
to  the  narrow  prison-cell  of  the  ciborium,  our  Eucharistic 
Lord  leads  captivity  captive,  bringing  those  who  were 
or  might  have  been  the  miserable  slaves  of  earthly 
vanities  and  sin  — bringing  them  under  the  blissful 
bondage  of  His  grace,  making  them  also  “ prisoners  of 
love.” 

May  Jesus,  our  Lord  and  our  God,  bind  us  fast  with 
these  fetters  of  love,  that  so  we  may  never  be  parted 
from  Him  either  in  life  or  in  death!  May  we  live  and 
die  under  the  shadow  of  His  sacramental  presence  on 
earth,  and  may  we  live  forever  in  the  brightness  of  the 
beatific  vision  in  heaven!  But  between  earth  and 
heaven  stands  the  judgment-seat  of  God.  There,  too, 
Jesus  is  waiting . May  we  now,  while  there  is  still 
time,  in  these  passing  days  of  our  mortal  life,  prepare 
for  the  judgment;  and  amongst  our  preparations  may 
we,  by  the  frequency  and  fervor  of  our  visits  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament,  entitle  ourselves  to  cherish  the 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


348 

glorious  hope  of  hearing  from  the  lips  of  our  merciful 
redeemer  and  judge  the  welcome  which  He  Himself 
has  put  into  words  that  for  us  can  be  literally  fulfilled 
only  in  the  Sacrament  of  His  love : “ I was  in  prison, 
and  ye  visited  Me.  Ye  blessed  of  My  Father,  come!  ” 

“ *t*  NOW  behold  Thee  hidden  under  veils, 

JL  O grant  my  prayer,  that  I Thy  face  may  see, 
Revealed  in  glory  — sight  for  which  I thirst, 

To  make  me  blessed  for  etemity.,,  — BAGSHAWE. 


Ube  Ibour  of  Hboration 

jiHctijcrti  of  Slioratton  3xcotbing  to  tf)e  JFout  lEnDs 
of  Sacrifice 1 

The  Hour  of  Adoration  is  divided  into  four  parts. 
During  each  quarter  of  an  hour  we  are  to  honor  Our 
Lord  by  one  of  the  Four  Ends  of  Sacrifice,  that  is,  by 
Adoration , Thanksgiving , Reparation , and  Prayer  or 
Supplication. 


jftrst  (©natter  of  an  ^our — ^tooratton 


%Y~T PORE  Our  Lord  in  His  Divine  Sacrament, 
cJPL*  first,  by  the  exterior  homage  of  the  body. 

As  soon  as  you  perceive  His  adorable  presence 
in  the  sacred  Host 2 genuflect  profoundly  and 
with  extreme  reverence  as  an  evidence  of  your 
faith  and  love.  Adore  Him  in  union  with  the 
Wise  Men,  when,  prostrating  themselves  to  the 
earth,  they  adored  the  infant  God,  cradled  in  an 
humble  manger  and  wrapped  in  swaddling- 
clothes.  After  this  first  silent  and  impulsive  act 
of  homage,  adore  Our  Lord  by  a vocal  act  of  faith. 


1 Extract  from  the  beautiful  work  of  Pere  Eymard,  La 
Presence  Reelle. 

2 In  the  houses  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  there  is  continual  exposition. 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


349 


This  act  of  faith  is  needed  to  awaken  the  senses 
and  render  them  susceptible  to  the  influences  of 
devotion. 

It  will  open  to  you  the  heart  of  the  divine  Mas- 
ter, and  the  treasures  of  His  grace.  Be  faithful 
to  it  and  make  it  with  simplicity  and  devotion. 

Offer  now  to  Jesus  the  homage  of  your  whole 
being,  specifying  the  homage  of  each  particular 
faculty  of  your  soul.  Offer  Him  your  mind  to 
know  Him  better,  your  heart  to  love  Him,  your 
will  to  serve  Him,  your  body  with  all  its  senses, 
that  each  may  glorify  Him  in  its  own  way. 

Offer  Him  your  thoughts,  that  the  Eucharist 
may  be  the  dominating  thought  of  your  life  and 
may  reign  over  your  heart  and  its  affections;  call- 
ing Jesus  your  God  and  your  King,  and  desiring 
no  other  aim  in  life  than  to  serve,  to  love,  to  glorify 
Him.  Give  Him  your  memory,  that  it  may  dwell 
on  Him  alone,  and  thus  desire  to  live  but  for 
Him,  in  Him,  and  through  Him. 

Since  your  adoration  is  in  itself  so  weak  and 
imperfect*  unite  it  to  the  adoration  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  at  Bethlehem,  at  Nazareth,  in  the  Cenacle, 
on  Calvary,  and  before  the  Tabernacle.  Unite  it 
to  the  adoration  of  holy  Church  and  all  pious 
souls  who  are  adoring  Our  Lord  at  this  moment, 
and  with  the  heavenly  court,  glorifying  Him  in 
heaven,  and  your  adoration  will  share  in  their 
merit  and  holiness. 


Seconb  ©natter  of  an  — (Lfjanksgtbtng 

*jnpDORE  the  immense  and  personal  love  of 
Jesus  Christ  for  you  in  the  Holy  Eucharist. 
That  you  might  not  be  left  lonely  and  orphaned 
in  this  land  of  misery  and  exile,  He  comes  Himself 


350 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


from  heaven  to  abide  with  you  and  to  be  your 
consoler  and  comforter.  Thank  Him,  then,  with 
all  your  heart  and  with  all  your  strength.  Thank 
Him  in  union  with  all  the  saints. 

Wonder  at  and  admire  the  sacrifice  He  makes 
for  you  in  His  sacramental  state.  He  conceals 
His  divine  and  human  glory  that  you  may  not  be 
dazzled  or  blinded  by  its  splendor  and  effulgence. 
He  veils  His  majesty  that  you  may  dare  to  ap- 
proach Him  familiarly  and  speak  with  Him  as 
friend  to  friend.  He  restrains  His  power  and 
holds  it  captive  that  He  may  not  punish  or  affright 
you.  He  hides  from  you  His  wondrous  perfec- 
tions that  your  weakness  may  not  be  discouraged. 
He  tempers  even  the  ardors  of  His  divine  love, 
the  love  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  lest  you  could  not 
support  its  strength  and  its  tenderness.  He  per- 
mits His  divine  goodness  alone  to  escape  and  to 
radiate  from  the  sacred  Host  as  the  rays  of  the 
sun  shine  through  a light  and  fleecy  cloud.  Oh, 
how  good  He  is,  your  sacramental  Jesus! 

He  receives  you  at  all  times,  day  or  night.  His 
love  knows  no  repose.  He  is  ever  full  of  sweet- 
ness to  you.  He  forgets  your  sins  and  your  im- 
perfections when  you  visit  Him,  to  testify  only 
His  happiness,  His  delight,  at  your  visit.  It 
would  seem  that  He  needed  you  to  make  Him 
happy.  Oh,  thank,  then,  this  dear  and  loving 
Jesus  with  all  the  effusion  of  your  soul.  Thank 
the  heavenly  Father  for  having  thus  given  you 
His  divine  Son.  Thank  the  Holy  Ghost  for  this 
new  Incarnation  of  Our  Lord  upon  the  altar  by 
the  ministry  of  the  priest,  and  for  you  personally. 

Invite  heaven  and  earth,  angels  and  men,  to 
join  you  in  thanking,  in  blessing,  in  glorifying 
Our  Lord  for  His  marvelous  love. 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


35i 


Contemplate  with  wonder  the  humiliations  of 
the  sacramental  state  which  Jesus  has  taken  upon 
IJimself  for  love  of  you.  He  is  poorer  in  the 
Holy  Eucharist  than  in  Bethlehem  even,  for  there 
He  had  His  mother,  and  here  he  has  her  not. 
He  has  brought  with  Him  from  heaven  only  His 
grace  and  His  love.  How  obedient  He  is!  He 
yields  a sweet,  a prompt  obedience  to  every  one, 
even  to  His  enemies. 

Admire  His  humility.  He  descends  to  the 
borders  of  annihilation,  uniting  Himself  to  the 
common  and  inanimate  matter  of  the  Sacred 
Species,  whose  frail  elements  have  no  consistency 
but  that  given  them  by  the  word  of  the  Almighty, 
which  preserves  them  continually.  His  love  for 
us  keeps  Him  our  prisoner  forever.  It  is  the 
chain  that  binds  Him  until  the  end  of  the  world 
in  that  Eucharistic  prison  that  should  be  our 
heaven  upon  earth. 

Unite  your  thanksgiving  to  that  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  before  the  Incarnation,  and,  above  all, 
before  holy  communion.  Repeat  with  her  in  joy- 
ous accents  the  Magnificat  of  your  thanksgiving 
and  love,  and  say  continually:  “ O Jesus,  how 
good,  how  loving,  how  lovely  art  Thou  in  Thy 
divine  Sacrament!  ” 

2Ef)irti  (Quarter  of  an  ^ottt — Reparation 

'■tTDORE  and  console  Jesus  abandoned  and 
despised  by  men  in  His  Sacrament  of  Love. 
Man  has  time  for  everything  except  to  visit  his 
Lord  and  his  God,  Who  waits  for  him  so  patiently 
and  thirsts  for  his  love  in  the  tabernacle.  The 
streets,  the  theaters,  are  crowded;  the  house  of 
God,  alas,  is  empty.  “ O poor  Jesus,  O neg- 


352 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


lected  Jesus,  how  canst  Thou  abide  such  in- 
difference from  those  Thou  hast  purchased  at  so 
great  a cost;  from  Thy  friends,  from  Thy  chil- 
dren, from  me!  ” 

Weep  over  Jesus  betrayed,  insulted,  mocked, 
and  crucified  more  cruelly  in  His  sacrament  of 
love  than  in  the  Garden  of  Olives,  in  Jerusalem, 
or  on  Calvary.  And  it  is  too  often  those  whom 
He  has  most  loved,  most  honored,  and  most  en- 
riched with  His  gifts  and  graces  who  offend  Him 
most,  who  dishonor  Him  most  in  His  holy  temple 
by  their  irreverence  — who  crucify  Him  anew  by 
tepid  or  even  sacrilegious  communions. 

O divine  Jesus,  couldst  Thou  have  believed 
that  the  very  greatness  of  Thy  love  would  furnish 
man  with  an  object  for  his  malice,  that  he  would 
turn  against  Thee  even  Thy  most  precious  gifts 
and  graces! 

And  I,  alas,  have  I nothing  to  reproach  myself 
with?  Have  I ever  been  negligent  or  unfaithful 
to  Thee  ? 

Adore  Jesus,  and  seek  to  make  reparation  for 
the  negligence,  profanation,  and  sacrilege  that  He 
meets  with  so  frequently.  Offer  with  this  inten- 
tion all  the  sufferings  that  you  must  endure  during 
the  day  or  the  week.  Impose  upon  yourself  some 
penance  for  your  own  sins  and  those  of  your  rela- 
tions, or  for  those  whom  you  have  disedified  by 
your  want  of  devotion  in  church,  or  even  by  your 
distractions  and  levity. 

But  since  all  your  satisfactions  and  penances 
are  so  few  and  so  worthless  in  reparation  for  such 
great  sins,  unite  them  with  those  of  Jesus  Christ 
your  Saviour  on  the  cross.  Gather  up  the  pre- 
cious blood  that  flows  from  His  sacred  wounds 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


353 


and  offer  it  to  the  Divine  Justice  in  reparation. 
Offer  the  prayers  and  sufferings  of  the  crucified 
Jesus  to  the  heavenly  Father,  and  beg  in  return 
grace  and  mercy  for  yourself  and  all  sinners. 

Unite  your  reparation  to  that  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and  you  will  obtain 
all  that  you  ask  through  the  love  of  Jesus  for  His 
immaculate  mother. 

Jouttfj  (©uarter  of  an  l^our  — ^rager 

'ttt'DORE  Our  Lord  in  His  most  divine  sacra- 
tJPL,  ment,  pleading  unceasingly  for  you,  show- 
ing His  sacred  wounds,  His  sacred  Heart  pierced 
with  the  lance,  to  His  heavenly  Father  to  win 
mercy  for  you  and  yours.  Unite  your  prayers  to 
His  and  ask  what  He  asks. 

Jesus  prays  His  heavenly  Father  to  bless,  to 
exalt,  to  defend  His  Church;  He  prays  Him  to 
make  it  better  known,  and  better  loved  and  served 
among  men.  Pray  for  holy  Church  so  tried,  so 
persecuted  in  the  person  of  the  Vicar  of  Jesus 
Christ,  that  God  may  deliver  him  from  his 
enemies,  that  he  may  convert  and  bring  them 
humbled  and  repentant  to  his  feet. 

Jesus  prays  continually  for  the  sacred  priest- 
hood, that  its  members  may  be  filled  with  the 
grace  and  unction  of  the  Holy  Spirit;  that  they 
may  grow  in  all  virtues  and  be  consumed  with 
zeal  for  His  glory  and  the  salvation  of  the  souls 
He  has  purchased  with  His  death  on  the  cross. 
Pray  earnestly  for  your  bishop,  that  God  may  pre- 
serve him  to  you,  that  He  may  bless  and  console 
him  and  grant  success  to  his  zealous  desires  for 
God’s  greater  glory. 


354 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


Pray  for  your  pastors,  that  they  may  grow  in 
the  virtues  of  their  state  and  may  be  enlightened 
and  strengthened  to  lead  and  sanctify  the  little 
flock  confided  to  their  solicitude  and  direction. 

Bray  that  God  may  grant  to  holy  Church  many 
and  saintly  vocations  to  the  priesthood.  A holy 
priest  is  the  greatest  gift  of  heaven’  He  may 
bring  down  the  blessings  of  God  upon  a whole 
city. 

Pray  for  all  Religious  Orders,  that  they  may  be 
ever  fervent  and  faithful  in  their  apostolic  voca- 
tion, and  that  all  whom  God  calls  to  the  religious 
life  may  have  the  grace  to  answer  the  divine  call 
and  be  ever  faithful  to  it.  One  saint  may  save 
an  entire  nation,  and  his  prayers  are  a surer  safe- 
guard and  protection  to  his  country  than  the 
might  of  armies. 

Pray  for  the  fervor  and  perseverance  of  pious 
souls  in  the  world  who  are  vowed  or  devoted  to 
the  service  of  God.  To  the  tender  charity  of  His 
sacred  heart  they,  too,  are  Religious,  and  have 
greater  need  of  prayer  and  assistance,  because 
they  must  face  greater  dangers  and  greater 
sacrifices. 

Ask  of  God  the  conversion  of  some  great  sinner, 
and  in  an  appointed  or  definite  space  of  time. 
Nothing  gives  so  much  glory  to  God  as  these 
marvelous  manifestations  of  His  mercy  and  grace. 

Then,  at  last,  pray  for  yourself,  that  you  may 
become  more  holy,  and  may  spend  your  days  in 
a manner  pleasing  to  God. 

Pray  for  the  holy  souls  in  purgatory. 

Make  a little  bouquet  of  your  prayers  and  your 
sacrifices,  offer  it  to  Jesus,  and  ask  Him  in  return 
for  His  loving  benediction. 


THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION  355 

TEbe  jfort£  Ibours’  Hboration 

Entmlgntccs  'Ettarijrti  to  iijts  IBebotton 

A plenary  indulgence  to  all  who,  after  confession  and 
communion,  shall  devoutly  visit  the  Blessed  Sacrament  ex- 
posed to  public  veneration  and  pray  for  the  intention  of  the 
Sovereign  Pontiff. 

An  indulgence  of  ten  years  and  as  many  quarantines  for 
every  visit  made  with  true  contrition  and  a firm  purpose  of 
going  to  confession.  This  indulgence  was  confirmed  by  His 
Holiness  Pope  Pius  IX,  by  a rescript  of  the  Sacred  Congre- 
gation of  Indulgences,  November  26,  1876.  By  a rescript 
May  10,  1807,  Pius  VII  declared  that  henceforth  and  for- 
ever, in  the  churches  where  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  ex- 
posed, all  the  altars  are  privileged  during  the  time  of  exposi- 
tion, and  Leo  XIII,  by  a rescript  of  the  Sacred  Congregation 
of  Indulgences,  December  8,  1897,  extended  the  same  in- 
dulgences to  all  churches  throughout  the  world  where  this 
devotion  is  practised  as  in  Rome. 

To  gain  the  plenary  indulgence  holy  communion  may  be 
received  in  any  church. 

The  obligatory  visit  to  the  church  where  the  Forty  Hours ’ 
Adoration  is  held  need  not  last  a whole  hour.  Both  the 
plenary  indulgence  and  the  partial  indulgences  (which  latter 
may  be  gained  as  often  as  a visit  is  made)  are  applicable  to 
the  souls  in  purgatory.  As  regards  the  introduction  of  the 
Forty  Hours  into  the  United  States  we  read  in  the  “ Manual 
of  the  Forty  Hours’  Adoration  ” the  following  note: 

“ This  devotion  was  first  introduced  into  the  diocese  of 
Philadelphia  in  1853  by  the  saintly  Bishop  Neumann;  next, 
in  1858,  into  the  archdiocese  of  Baltimore;  and  finally  at  the 
Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore  in  1866  formally  approved 
(confirmed  by  Papal  indults)  for  all  the  dioceses  of  the  United 
States.  The  Most  Rev.  P.  F.  Kenrick,  Archbishop  of  Balti- 
more, feeling  that  not  all  the  rules  of  the  Clementine  Instruc- 
tion could  be  strictly  observed,  had  petitioned  Pius  IX  to 
grant  some  modifications.  A rescript,  dated  December  10, 
1857,  and  extended  to  all  the  dioceses  of  the  United  States, 
January  24,  1868,  allowed  the  following  concessions: 

(a)  That  the  Exposition  need  not  be  continued  during  the 
night,  (b)  That  the  procession  may  be  omitted  at  the  pru- 
dent discretion  of  the  pastor,  (c)  That  the  faithful  should 
be  able  to  gain  all  the  indulgences  granted  by  the  Constitu- 
tion Graves  et  diuturnae  of  Clement  VIII. 


356  THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION 


Gbe  ILiturgg  of  tbe  Jfortg  Ibouts 


jjirst  10  ag 

The  Mass  of  Exposition  on  the  first  day  of  the  Forty 
Hours’  Devotion  is  usually  the  Solemn  Votive  Mass  of  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament.  Vide  “ The  Ordinary  of  the  Mass,” 
page  252. 

During  the  octave  of  Corpus  Christi  the  Mass  is  that  of 
the  Octave  with  the  sequence:  Lauda  Sion  Salvatorem , 
page  362. 

N.B.  After  holy  communion  the  celebrant  places  the 
sacred  Host  in  the  monstrance.  At  the  end  of  Mass  he 
takes  off  the  chasuble,  puts  on  the  cope,  and  then  incenses 
the  Blessed  Sacrament.  During  the  procession  the  hymn 
Pange  Lingua  is  sung. 


^ange  ILhtgua 
*"fg)ANGE  iingua  gioriosi 

Corporis  mysterium, 


Sanguinisque  pretiosi, 

Quem  in  mundi  pre- 
tium, 

Fructus  ventris  generosi 
Rex  effudit  gentium. 

Nobis  datus,  nobis  natus 
Ex  intacta  Virgine, 

Et  in  mundo  conversatus 
Sparso  verbi  semine, 

Sui  moras  incolatus 
Miro  clausit  ordine. 


SING,  my  tongue,  the 
Saviour’s  glory, 

Of  His  flesh,  the  mystery 
sing; 

Of  His  blood,  all  price  ex- 
ceeding, 

Shed  by  our  immortal 
king, 

Destin’d  for  the  world’s 
redemption, 

From  a noble  womb  to 
spring. 

Of  a pure  and  spotless  Vir- 
gin 

Born  for  us  on  earth  be- 
low, 

He,  as  man  with  man  con- 
versing, 

Stay’d  the  seeds  of  truth 
to  sow; 

Then  He  closed  in  solemn 
order 

Wondrously  His  life  of 
woe. 


THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION  357 


In  supremae  nocta  coenae 

Recumbens  cum  fratri- 
bus, 

Observata  lege  plene 
Cibis  in  legalibus, 

Cibum  turbae  duodenae 
Se  dat  suis  manibus. 


Verbum  caro  panem  verum 

Verbo  carnem  efficit: 

Fitque  sanguis  Christi  me- 
rum: 

Et  si  sensus  deficit, 

Ad  firmandum  cor  sin- 
cerum 

Sola  fides  sufficit. 


On  the  night  of  that  Last 
Supper, 

Seated  with  His  chosen 
band, 

He  the  paschal  victim  eat- 
ing, 

First  fulfils  the  Lord’s 
command ; 

Then  as  food  to  all  His 
brethren, 

Gives  Himself  with  His 
own  hand. 

Word  made  flesh,  the 
bread  of  nature 

By  His  word  to  flesh  He 
turns: 

Wine  into  His  blood  He 
changes; 

What  though  sense  no 
change  discerns! 

Only  be  the  heart  in  ear- 
nest, 

Faith  her  lessons  quickly 
learns. 


On  returning  to  the  altar  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  placed 
on  the  throne  and  the  choir  sings: 


^^ANTUM  ergo  sacra- 
mentum 

Veneremur  cernui: 

Et  antiquum  documentum 

Novo  cedat  ritui; 

Praestet  fides  supplemen- 
tum 

Sensuum  defectui. 


VvOWN  in  adoration 
JLl  falling, 

Lo!  the  sacred  Host  we 
hail! 

Lo!  o’er  ancient  forms  de- 
parting 

Newer  rites  of  grace  pre- 
vail; 

Faith  for  all  defects  sup- 
plying, 

Where  the  feebler  senses 
fail. 


358  THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION 


Here  the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  incensed . 


0 


ENITORI  Genitoque 


Laus  et  jubilatio, 


Salus,  honor,  virtus  quo- 
que, 

Sit  et  benedictio, 

Procedenti  ab  utroque 

Compar  sit  laudatio. 
Amen. 


THE  everlasting 

Vi)  Father, 

And  the  Son  Who  reigns 
on  high, 

With  the  Holy  Ghost  pro- 
ceeding 

Forth  from  each  eter- 
nally, 

Be  salvation,  honor,  bless- 
ing, 

Might  and  endless  ma- 
jesty. Amen. 


After  the  procession , the  Litany  of  the  Saints  {page  490), 
with  a few  additional  invocations , is  chanted,  or  recited . 
The  following  prayers  are  then  said: 


^salttt  69 

OG0D,  come  to  my  assistance:  O Lord,  make  haste 
to  help  me. 

Let  them  be  confounded  and  ashamed:  that  seek 
after  my  soul. 

Let  them  be  turned  backward,  and  blush  for  shame: 
that  desire  evils  unto  me. 

Let  them  be  straightway  turned  backward,  blushing 
for  shame,  that  say  unto  me:  “ ’Tis  well,  ’tis  well.” 

Let  all  that  seek  Thee  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  Thee: 
and  let  such  as  love  Thy  salvation  say  always,  the  Lord 
be  magnified. 

But  I am  needy  and  poor:  O God,  help  me. 

Thou  art  my  helper  and  my  deliverer:  O Lord,  do 
not  delay. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father  and  to  the  Son  and  i:o  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

As  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be, 
world  without  end.  Amen. 

V.  Save  Thy  servants. 

R.  Who  hope  in  Thee,  O my  God. 

V.  Be  unto  us,  O Lord,  a tower  of  strength. 


THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION  359 

R . From  the  face  of  the  enemy. 

V . Let  not  the  enemy  prevail  against  us. 

R.  Nor  the  son  of  iniquity  have  power  to  hurt  us. 

V.  O Lord,  deal  not  with  us  according  to  our  sins. 

R.  Neither  requite  us  according  to  our  iniquities. 

V . Let  us  pray  for  our  Sovereign  Pontiff,  N. 

R.  The  Lord  preserve  him  and  give  him  life,  and 
make  him  blessed  upon  the  earth;  and  deliver  him 
not  up  to  the  will  of  his  enemies. 

V.  Let  us  pray  for  our  benefactors. 

R.  Vouchsafe,  O Lord,  for  Thy  name’s  sake,  to  re- 
ward with  eternal  life  all  those  who  do  us  good.  Amen. 
V . Let  us  pray  for  the  faithful  departed. 

R.  Eternal  rest  grant  unto  them,  O Lord;  and  let 
perpetual  light  shine  upon  them. 

V.  May  they  rest  in  peace. 

R.  Amen. 

V.  For  our  absent  brethren. 

R.  O my  God,  save  Thy  servants,  trusting  in  Thee. 
V.  Send  them  help,  O Lord,  from  Thy  holy  place. 

R.  And  protect  them  out  of  Sion. 

V.  O Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

R.  And  let  my  cry  come  unto  Thee. 

V.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

R.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

Let  us  pray 

OG0D,  Who  in  this  wonderful  Sacrament  hast  left 
us  a memorial  of  Thy  passion;  grant  us,  we  be- 
seech Thee,  so  to  venerate  the  sacred  mysteries  of  Thy 
body  and  blood,  that  we  may  ever  feel  within  us  the 
fruit  of  Thy  redemption. 

From  Advent  to  Christmas 

OG0D,  Who  didst  will  that  Thy  Word,  at  the  mes- 
sage of  an  angel,  should  take  flesh  in  the  womb  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary:  grant  that  we,  Thy  suppliants, 
who  verily  believe  her  to  be  the  Mother  of  God,  may 
be  assisted  by  her  intercessions  with  Thee. 


36o 


THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION 


From  Christmas  to  the  Purification 

OG0D,  Who  by  the  fruitful  virginity  of  blessed 
Mary  hast  assured  to  mankind  the  blessings  of 
eternal  life:  grant,  we  beseech  Thee,  that  we  may 
experience  the  intercession  of  her,  through  whom  we 
have  been  found  worthy  to  receive  the  author  of  life, 
Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Thy  Son. 

From  the  Purification  to  Advent 

y^>fRANT,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord  God,  that  we, 
Thy  servants,  may  enjoy  perpetual  health  of  mind 
and  body;  and,  by  the  glorious  intercession  of  the 
blessed  Mary,  ever  virgin,  may  be  delivered  from 
present  sorrow,  and  possess  eternal  joy. 

O almighty  God,  have  mercy  on  Thy  servant,  N., 
our  Sovereign  Pontiff,  and  direct  him  according  to  Thy 
clemency,  in  the  way  of  everlasting  salvation,  that  by 
Thy  grace  he  may  both  desire  things  that  are  pleasing 
to  Thee,  and  perform  them  with  all  his  strength. 

O God,  our  refuge  and  our  strength,  and  the  author 
of  all  goodness,  attend  to  the  pious  prayers  of  Thy 
Church,  and  grant  that  what  we  ask  in  faith  we  may 
effectually  obtain. 

Almighty,  everlasting  God,  Who  savest  all  and 
wishest  none  to  perish:  look  on  the  souls  deceived  by 
the  wiles  of  the  evil  one,  that,  all  the  malice  of  heresy 
being  laid  aside,  the  hearts  of  those  in  error  may  re- 
pent and  return  to  the  unity  of  Thy  truth. 

Almighty,  everlasting  God,  Who  hast  dominion  over 
the  living  and  the  dead,  and  art  merciful  to  all,  of  whom 
Thou  foreknowest  that  they  will  be  Thine,  by  faith  and 
good  works;  we  humbly  beseech  Thee  that  they  for 
whom  we  intend  to  pour  forth  our  prayers,  whether  this 
present  world  still  detain  them  in  the  flesh  or  the  world 
to  come  hath  already  received  them  stripped  of  then- 
bodies,  may,  through  the  intercession  of  all  Thy  saints, 
by  the  grace  of  Thy  goodness,  obtain  the  remission  of 
all  their  sins.  Through  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Thy 


THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION  361 

Son,  Who  with  Thee  liveth  and  reigneth  in  the  unity  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  world  without  end. 

R.  Amen. 

V.  O Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

R.  And  let  my  cry  come  unto  Thee. 

V.  May  the  almighty  and  merciful  Lord  graciously 
hear  us. 

R.  And  always  watch  over  us:  Amen. 

V.  May  the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed,  through 
the  mercy  of  God,  rest  in  peace. 

R.  Amen. 

£>econti  ©ag 

The  Mass  of  the  second  day  of  the  Forty  Hours’  Devotion 
is  usually  the  solemn  Mass  for  Peace  (page  277)  with  a com- 
memoration of  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  The  Mass  is  sung 
without  the  Gloria  and  (except  on  Sundays)  without  the 
Credo . 


2Ttjtrb  30  ag 

On  the  third  day  as  well  as  on  the  first  day  of  the  Forty 
Hours’  Devotion  the  Mass  to  be  celebrated  is  the  Solemn 
Votive  Mass  of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament.  On  certain  occa- 
sions there  is  an  exception  to  this  rule.  During  the  octave 
of  Corpus  Christi  the  Mass  is  that  of  the  Octave  with  the 
sequence,  Lauda  Sion  Salvatorem  — O Sion,  thy  Redeemer, 
etc.  (page  362). 

For  the  close  of  the  Forty  Hours  the  celebrant  puts  on  the 
cope  and  kneels  at  the  foot  of  the  altar.  The  Litany  is 
chanted  as  far  as  the  “ Domine , exaudi  orationem  meam ” 
— “ O Lord,  hear  my  prayer,”  then  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
is  incensed  and  the  procession  takes  place,  during  which  the 
hymn  Range  Lingua  is  sung.  At  the  end  of  the  Procession 
the  Blessed  Sacrament  is  placed  on  the  altar,  and  the  choir 
sings  the  Tantum  Ergo  Sacramentum.  This  hymn  being 
finished,  the  celebrant  sings  the  versicle,  “ Panem  de  coelo ,” 
etc.,  and  the  choir  responds,  “ Omne  delectamentum ,”  etc. 
Then  the  celebrant  rises  and  chants  the  prayers,  after  which 
is  given  Benediction  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 


362  THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION 

ILauUa  &tcn  &altoatorntt 

OSION,  thy  Redeemer  praising, 
Songs  of  joy  to  Him  upraising, 
Laud  thy  pastor  and  thy  guide : 

Swell  thy  notes  most  high  and  daring ; 
For  His  praise  is  past  declaring, 

And  thy  loftiest  powers  beside. 

’Tis  a theme  with  praise  that  gloweth, 
For  the  bread  that  life  bestoweth 
Goes  this  day  before  us  out; 

Which,  His  holy  supper  taking, 

To  the  brethren  twelve  His  breaking 
None  hath  ever  called  in  doubt. 

Full,  then,  be  our  praise  and  sounding, 
Modest  and  with  joy  abounding 
Be  our  mind’s  triumphant  state; 

For  the  festal’s  prosecution, 

When  the  first  blest  institution 
Of  this  feast  we  celebrate. 

In  the  new  king’s  new  libation, 

In  the  new  law’s  new  oblation, 

Ends  the  ancient  paschal  rite; 
Ancient  forms  new  substance  chaseth, 
Typic  shadows  truth  displaceth, 

Day  dispels  the  gloom  of  night. 

What  He  did  at  supper  seated, 

Christ  enjoined  to  be  repeated, 

When  His  love  we  celebrate: 

Thus,  obeying  His  dictation, 

Blood  and  wine  of  our  salvation, 

We  the  victim  consecrate. 

’Tis  for  Christian  faith  asserted, 

Bread  is  into  flesh  converted, 

Into  blood  the  holy  wine: 


THE  FORTY  HOURS’  ADORATION 

Sight  and  intellect  transcending, 
Nature’s  laws  to  marvel  bending, 

’Tis  confirmed  by  faith  divine. 

Under  either  kind  remaining, 

Form,  not  substance,  still  retaining, 
Wondrous  things  our  spirit  sees: 
Flesh  and  blood  thy  palate  staining, 

Yet  still  Christ  entire  remaining, 

Under  either  species. 

All  untom  for  eating  given, 

Undivided  and  unriven, 

Whole  He’s  taken  and  unrent ; 

Be  there  one,  or  crowds  surrounding, 
He  is  equally  abounding, 

Nor,  though  eaten,  ever  spent. 

Both  to  good  and  bad  ’tis  broken, 

But  on  each  a different  token 
Or  of  life,  or  death  attends: 

Life  to  good,  to  bad  damnation; 

Lo,  of  one  same  manducation 
How  dissimilar  the  ends. 

When  the  priest  the  victim  breaketh, 
See  thy  faith  in  nowise  shaketh, 

Know  that  every  fragment  taketh 
All  that  ’neath  the  whole  there  lies : 
This  in  Him  no  fracture  maketh, 

’Tis  the  figure  only  breaketh, 

Form,  or  state,  no  change  there  taketh 
Place  in  what  it  signifies. 

Bread,  that  angels  eat  in  heaven, 

Now  becomes  the  pilgrim’s  leaven, 
Bread  in  truth  to  children  given, 

That  must  ne’er  to  dogs  be  thrown. 
He,  in  ancient  types  disguised, 


363 


364 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


Was  the  Isaac  sacrificed, 

For  the  feast  a lamb  devised, 

Manna  to  the  Fathers  shown. 

Bread,  whose  shepherd-care  doth  tend  us, 
Jesu  Christ,  Thy  mercy  send  us, 

Do  Thou  feed  us,  Thou  defend  us, 

Lead  us  where  true  joys  attend  us, 

In  the  land  where  life  is  given: 

Thou  all  ken  and  might  possessing, 

Mercies  aye  to  us  largessing, 

Make  us  share  Thy  cup  of  blessing, 

Heritage  and  love’s  caressing 
With  the  denizens  of  heaven. 

Amen.  Alleluia. 

praters  for  Distts  to  tbe  Blesseb 
Sacrament 

Entmlgencts  for  tfje  $our  of  Quotation  on  Efjurstiap 
Devout  Exercises  for  all  the  Thursdays  in  the  Year,  and 
Especially  for  Holy  Thursday  and  the  Feast  of  Corpus 
Christi 

^r'HE  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Pius  VII,  on  Feb.  i,  1815, 
and  April  6,  1816,  granted  a plenaiy  indulgence 
to  all  those  who  shall  perform  for  one  hour,  in  public 
or  in  private,  on  Holy  Thursday,  any  devout  exercise 
in  honor  of  the  institution  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament, 
provided  that  they  be  truly  penitent,  and  approach  the 
sacraments  of  confession  and  communion  on  that  day, 
or  on  any  day  during  the  following  week. 

A plenary  indulgence,  on  the  same  conditions,  on 
the  Feast  of  Corpus  Christi.  An  indulgence  of  300 
days  for  each  of  the  other  Thursdays  of  the  year,  on 
performing  the  said  exercise  with  at  least  contrite  heart 
and  devotion.  All  these  indulgences  were  confirmed 
by  the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Pius  IX,  June  18,  1876. 

&f}ort  Lntmlpnceti  Utstt  to  tfj t iSlesscti  Sacrament 

His  Holiness,  Pope  Pius  IX,  by  a brief,  Sept.  15, 
1876,  granted  to  all  the  faithful  who,  with  at  least  con- 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  365 

trite  heart  and  devotion,  shall  visit  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament,  and  say  before  it  the  Our  Father,  the  Hail 
Mary , and  the  Glory  be  to  the  Father , each  five  times, 
and  another  Our  Father , Hail  Mary , and  Glory  be  to 
the  Father , for  peace  and  union  among  Christian 
princes,  for  the  extirpation  of  heresy,  for  the  conver- 
sion of  sinners,  and  for  the  triumph  of  holy  Mother 
Church,  an  indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time. 

Praper  of  &t.  ^Upljonsus  ILtguort  for  a Ttstt  to  tlje 
iSlcsseU  .Sacrament 

'T-'  ORD  Jesus  Christ,  Who,  through  the  love 
A-l * which  Thou  bearest  to  men,  dost  remain 
with  them  day  and  night  in  this  sacrament,  full 
of  mercy  and  of  love,  expecting,  inviting,  and 
receiving  all  who  come  to  visit  Thee,  I believe 
that  Thou  art  present  in  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Altar.  From  the  abyss  of  my  nothingness  I adore 
Thee,  and  I thank  Thee  for  all  the  favors  which 
Thou  hast  bestowed  upon  me,  particularly  for 
having  given  me  Thyself  in  this  sacrament,  for 
having  given  me  for  my  advocate  Thy  most  holy 
Mother,  Mary,  and  for  having  called  me  to  visit 
Thee  in  this  church. 

I this  day  salute  Thy  most  loving  Heart,  and  I 
wish  to  salute  it  for  three  ends:  first,  in  thanks- 
giving for  this  great  gift;  secondly,  in  compensa- 
tion for  all  the  injuries  Thou  hast  received  from 
Thy  enemies  in  this  sacrament;  thirdly,  I wish 
by  this  visit  to  adore  Thee  in  all  places  in  which 
Thou  art  least  honored  and  most  abandoned  in 
the  Holy  Sacrament.  My  Jesus,  I love  Thee 
with  my  whole  heart.  I am  sorry  for  having 
hitherto  offended  Thy  infinite  goodness.  I pur- 
pose, with  the  assistance  of  Thy  grace,  never 
more  to  offend  Thee;  and,  at  this  moment,  miser- 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


366 

able  as  I am,  I consecrate  my  whole  being  to 
Thee.  I give  Thee  my  entire  will,  all  my  affec- 
tions and  desires  and  all  that  I have.  From  this 
day  forward,  do  what  Thou  wilt  with  me,  and  with 
whatever  belongs  to  me.  I ask  and  desire  only 
Thy  holy  love,  the  gift  of  final  perseverance,  and 
the  perfect  accomplishment  of  Thy  will.  I recom- 
mend to  Thee  the  souls  in  purgatory,  particularly 
those  who  were  most  devoted  to  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament and  to  most  holy  Mary;  and  I also  recom- 
mend to  Thee  all  poor  sinners.  Finally,  my  dear 
Saviour,  I unite  all  my  affections  with  the  affec- 
tions of  Thy  most  loving  Heart;  and,  thus  united,  I 
offer  them  to  Thy  eternal  Father,  and  I entreat  Him, 
in  Thy  name,  and  for  Thy  sake,  to  accept  them. 

Indulgence  of  300  days  when  said  before  the  Blessed 
Sacrament.  — Pius  IX,  Sept.  7,  1854. 

lEjaculattons 

/Tv AY  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  be  praised,  adored,  and  loved 
with  grateful  affection,  at  every  moment,  in  all  the 
tabernacles  of  the  world,  even  to  the  end  of  time. 
Amen. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Feb. 
29,  1868. 

O SACRAMENT  most  holy,  O Sacrament  divine, 
All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every 
moment  Thine! 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  April 
10,  1913. 

Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  have  mercy 
on  us. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May 
20,  1911. 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  367 

Our  Lady  of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament,  pray 
for  us. 

Indulgence  of  300  days  to  those  who  recite  this  in- 
vocation before  the  Blessed  Sacrament  exposed.  — 
Pius  X,  Dec.  20,  1905. 


^rager  Before  tfje  Blesseti  Sacrament 

IN  spiritual  union  with  the  faithful  on  earth 
and  the  saints  in  heaven,  and  most  humbly 
prostrate  on  my  knees,  I adore  Thee,  O Jesus, 
true  God  and  true  man,  here  present  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist;  and,  profoundly  thankful  for  so  great 
a benefit,  with  my  whole  heart  I love  Thee,  my 
Jesus,  Who  art  infinitely  perfect  and  infinitely 
worthy  of  love.  Grant  me  the  grace  never  to 
offend  Thee  in  any  thing,  and  that,  refreshed  by 
thy  Eucharistic  presence  here  on  earth,  I may  de- 
serve to  enter  into  the  enjoyment  with  Mary  of 
Thy  everlasting  and  blessed  presence  in  heaven. 
Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  X, 
March  18,  1909. 

lEjaculatfon 

77ESUS,  my  God,  I adore  Thee  here  present  in  the 
J Sacrament  of  Thy  Love. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time,  before  the  tabernacle. 
Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time,  at  exposition.  — Pius  X, 
July  3,  1908. 


Prager  fit  Befjalf  of  a fKuntctpalttg 
'OOK  down,  holy  Father  and  Lord,  from 


Thy 


sanctuary,  and  from  heaven,  Thy  dwelling-place 
on  high,  and  behold  this  sacred  victim  which  our  great 
high  priest,  Thy  holy  Child,  Our  Lord  Jesus,  offers  up 
to  Thee  for  the  sins  of  His  brethren;  and  be  appeased 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


368 

for  the  multitude  of  our  transgressions.  Behold,  the 
voice  of  the  blood  of  Jesus,  our  brother,  cries  to  Thee 
from  the  cross.  Give  ear,  O Lord!  Be  appeased,  O 
Lord!  Hearken,  and  do  not  tarry,  for  Thine  own  sake, 
O my  God,  for  Thy  name  is  invoked  upon  this  city  and 
upon  Thy  people;  and  deal  with  us  according  to  Thy 
mercy.  Amen. 

V.  That  Thou  vouchsafe  to  defend,  pacify,  keep,  pre- 
serve, and  bless  this  city. 

R.  We  beseech  Thee  to  hear  us. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day. — Pius  IX,  Feb.  4, 
1877. 


act  of  .Spiritual  Communion  of  St.  aipljonsus  ILiguori 

Jesus,  I believe  that  Thou  art  in  the  Blessed 
Sacrament.  I love  Thee  above  everything,  and 
I long  for  Thee  in  my  soul.  Since  I can  not  now  receive 
Thee  sacramentally,  come  at  least  spiritually  into  my 
heart.  As  though  Thou  wert  already  come,  I embrace 
Thee  and  unite  myself  entirely  to  Thee;  allow  me  not 
to  be  separated  from  Thee. 

Jesus,  my  good,  my  sweet  love, 

Wound,  inflame  this  heart  of  mine. 

So  that  it  may  be  always  and  all  on  fire  for  Thee. 
Indulgence  of  60  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  June  30, 
1893. 

lEjaculation 

O SWEETEST  Heart  of  Jesus,  I implore 

That  I may  ever  love  Thee  more  and  more. 
or 

BWEET  Heart  of  my  Jesus, 

Make  me  love  Thee  ever  more  and  more. 
Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Nov.  26, 
1876. 

draper 

BEHOLD,  my  most  loving  Jesus,  to  what  an  excess 
Thy  boundless  love  has  carried  Thee.  Of  Thine 
own  flesh  and  precious  blood  Thou  hast  made  ready 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  369 


for  me  a divine  banquet  in  order  to  give  me  all  Thyself. 
What  was  it  that  impelled  Thee  to  this  transport  of 
love  ? It  was  Thy  Heart,  Thy  loving  Heart.  O ador- 
able Heart  of  my  Jesus,  burning  furnace  of  Divine 
Love,  within  Thy  most  sacred  wound  receive  Thou  my 
soul;  that  in  that  school  of  charity  I may  learn  to  re- 
quite the  love  of  that  God  Who  has  given  me  such 
wondrous  proofs  of  His  love.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  VII,  Feb.  9, 
1818. 


draper  to  Jesus  in  tfje  J^olg  lEudjartst 

*“|^VEAR  Jesus,  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  be  for 
JLJ  ever  thanked  and  praised.  Love,  worthy  of  all 
celestial  and  terrestrial  love,  Who,  out  of  infinite  love 
for  me,  ungrateful  sinner,  didst  assume  our  human 
nature,  didst  shed  Thy  most  precious  blood  in  the  cruel 
scourging,  and  didst  expire  on  a shameful  cross  for  our 
eternal  welfare!  Now,  illumined  with  lively  faith, 
with  the  outpouring  of  my  whole  soul  and  the  fervor 
of  my  heart,  I humbly  beseech  Thee,  through  the  in- 
finite merits  of  Thy  painful  sufferings,  give  me  strength 
and  courage  to  destroy  every  evil  passion  which  sways 
my  heart,  to  bless  Thee  in  my  greatest  afflictions,  to 
glorify  Thee  by  the  exact  fulfilment  of  all  my  duties, 
supremely  to  hate  all  sin,  and  thus  to  become  a saint. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day. — Pius  IX,  Jan.  1, 
1866. 


Oblation  of 

*T>fUSCIPE.  Domine,  uni-. 

versam  meam  liberta- 
tem.  Accipe  memoriam, 
intellectum  atque  volunta- 
tem  omnem.  Quid  quid  ha- 
beo  vel  possideo,  mihi  lar- 
gitus  es ; id  tibi  totum  resti- 
tuo  ac  tuae  prorsus  volun- 
tati  trado  gubemandum. 
Amorem  tui  solum  cum 


Lgnattus  ILogola 

^^AKE,  O Lord,  and  re- 
ceive  all  my  liberty, 
my  memory,  my  under- 
standing, and  my  whole 
will.  Thou  hast  given  me 
all  that  I am  and  all  that 
I possess;  I surrender  it 
all  to  Thee  that  Thou 
mayest  dispose  of  it  ac- 
cording to  Thy  will.  Give 


370 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


gratia  tua  mihi  dones  et 
dives  sum  satis,  nec  aliud 
quidquam  ultra  posco. 


me  only  Thy  love  and  Thy 
grace ; with  these  I will  be 
rich  enough,  and  will  have 
no  more  to  desire. 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  May  26, 
1883. 


&nuna  (fcijrtstt,  &ancttfica  M t 

SOUL  of  Christ,  be  my  sanctification! 

Body  of  Christ,  be  my  salvation! 

Blood  of  Christ,  fill  all  my  veins! 

Water  of  Christ’s  side,  wash  out  my  stains! 

Passion  of  Christ,  my  comfort  be! 

O good  Jesu,  listen  to  me! 

In  Thy  wounds  I fain  would  hide! 

Ne’er  to  be  parted  from  Thy  side! 

Guard  me  should  the  foe  assail  me. 

Call  me,  when  my  life  shall  fail  me, 

Bid  me  come  to  Thee  above 
With  Thy  saints  to  sing  Thy  love, 

World  without  end.  Amen. 

( Cardinal  Newman1  s translation.) 
Indulgences:  300  days,  each  time.  Seven  years,  if  said 
after  communion.  Plenary,  once  a month.  — Pius  IX,  Jan. 

9,  1854. 


draper  to  tlje  5acrrt  Jgeart 

OM0ST  Holy  Heart  of  Jesus,  fountain  of  all  good, 
I adore  Thee,  I love  Thee,  and,  being  deeply  sorry 
for  my  sins,  I offer  Thee  this  my  poor  heart.  Make  it 
humble,  patient,  pure,  and  in  all  things  conformed  to 
Thy  desires. 

Grant,  O good  Jesus,  that  I may  live  in  Thee  and  for 
Thee.  Protect  me  in  dangers,  console  me  in  affliction, 
give  me  health  of  body,  assistance  in  my  temporal 
needs,  Thy  blessing  in  all  my  undertakings,  and  the 
grace  of  a holy  death. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Benedict  XV,  De- 
cember 4,  1915. 


37i 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


proper  to  tfje  UBibtne  l^eart  of  Jesus 

O DIVINE  Heart  of  Jesus,  grant,  we  beseech  Thee, 
eternal  rest  to  the  souls  in  purgatory,  the  final 
grace  to  those  who  shall  die  to-day,  true  repentance  to 
sinners,  the  light  of  the  Faith  to  pagans,  and  Thy  bless- 
ing to  me  and  mine.  To  Thee,  O most  compassionate 
Heart  of  Jesus,  I commend  all  these  souls,  and  I offer 
to  Thee  on  their  behalf  all  Thy  merits,  together  with 
the  merits  of  Thy  most  holy  mother  and  of  all  the 
saints  and  angels,  and  all  the  sacrifices  of  the  holy 
Mass,  communions,  prayers,  and  good  works,  which 
shall  be  accomplished  to-day  throughout  the  Christian 
world. 

Indulgence  of  ioo  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  13, 
1901. 

Ejaculation  to  tfj t <%acretf  geart 


LL  for  Thee,  most  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus! 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  26, 
1908, 


Entmlgenceti  draper  to  tije  &acreti  J^eart  of  Jesus  for  tf jt 
Cfjurdj  antJ  Supreme  Pontiff : for  tfje  Eiiring  anti 
tije  JBeaB 

OM0ST  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  pour  down  Thy 
blessings  abundantly  upon  Thy  Church,  upon  the 
Supreme  Pontiff,  and  upon  all  the  clergy ; give  perse- 
verance to  the  just ; convert  sinners ; enlighten  un- 
believers; bless  our  parents,  friends,  and  benefactors; 
help  the  dying ; free  the  souls  in  purgatory ; and  extend 
over  all  hearts  the  sweet  empire  of  Thy  love.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  X,  June  16, 
1906. 

Ejaculation 

JT'ESUS,  Mary,  and  good  Joseph,  bless  us,  now  and 
J in  the  agony  of  death. 

Indulgence  of  50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  June  9,  1906. 


372  PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 

Cardinal  Roman's  iPrager  for  a J^appg  UBeatfj 

OMY  Lord  and  Saviour,  support  me  in  my  last  hour 
by  the  strong  arms  of  Thy  sacraments,  and  the 
fragrance  of  Thy  consolations.  Let  Thy  absolving 
words  be  said  over  me,  and  the  holy  oil  sign  and  seal 
me ; and  let  Thine  own  body  be  my  food,  and  Thy  blood 
my  sprinkling;  and  let  Thy  mother  Mary  come  to  me, 
and  my  angel  whisper  peace  to  me,  and  Thy  glorious 
saints  and  my  own  dear  patrons  smile  on  me,  that  in 
and  through  them  all  I may  die  as  I desire  to  live,  in 
Thy  Church,  in  Thy  faith,  and  in  Thy  love.  Amen. 

IBjacuIatton 

ay  Jesus,  mercy. 

Indulgence  of  ioo  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Sept.  24, 
1846. 


JPrager  for  GHjose  in  Wqzix  ‘Egong 

OM0ST  merciful  Jesus,  lover  of  souls,  I pray 
Thee,  by  the  agony  of  Thy  most  sacred  Heart, 
and  by  the  sorrows  of  Thy  immaculate  mother,  cleanse 
in  Thine  own  blood  the  sinners  of  the  whole  world  who 
are  now  in  their  agony  and  about  to  die  this  day. 
Amen. 

Heart  of  Jesus,  once  in  agony,  pity  the  dying. 
Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Feb.  2, 1850. 

?Prager  to  3festts 

O JESUS,  while  adoring  Thy  last  breath,  I pray  Thee 
to  receive  mine.  In  the  uncertainty  whether  I 
shall  have  the  command  of  my  senses  when  I shall 
depart  out  of  this  world,  I offer  Thee  from  this  moment 
my  agony  and  all  the  pains  of  my  passing  away.  Thou 
art  my  Father  and  my  Saviour,  and  I give  back  my 
soul  into  Thy  hands.  I desire  that  my  last  moment 
may  be  united  to  the  moment  of  Thy  death,  and  that 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  373 

the  last  beat  of  my  heart  may  be  an  act  of  pure  love  of 
Thee.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  July  16, 
1902. 


£>fjort  Snbulgenceb  draper  for  tfje  £*>oulg  in  Purgatorp 


7.  'TT)  EQUIEM  aeter- 
nam  dona  eis, 

Domine. 

R.  Et  lux  perpetua  lu- 
ceat  eis. 

V.  Requiescant  in  pace. 
R.  Amen. 


V.  ^TERNAL  rest 
give  unto  them, 

O Lord. 

R.  And  let  perpetual 
light  shine  upon  them. 

V.  May  they  rest  in 
peace. 

R.  Amen. 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  February  13, 
1908. 

Petitions  Before  tfje  Most  3§olg 


O JESUS,  I thank  Thee  for  all  the  graces  I have  re- 
ceived through  Thy  real  presence  in  the  tabernacle ; 
grant  me  an  ardent  love  for  the  sacrament  of  Thy  love ; 
grant  that  my  visits  to  Thee  in  the  blessed  Eucharist 
may  sanctify  me,  make  me  resemble  Thee,  and  render 
me  more  pleasing  to  Thee. 

Dispose  me  better  for  the  worthy  and  fruitful  recep- 
tion of  holy  communion  and  increase  in  me  the  desire 
of  honoring  Thee  and  of  causing  others  to  love  and  honor 
Thee  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 

I commend  to  Thee  the  needs  of  my  soul,  the  needs 
of  my  family  and  of  my  friends.  Succor  holy  Church, 
the  Sovereign  Pontiff,  bishops,  priests,  Religious,  and 
all  the  faithful.  Direct  the  labors  of  the  apostolic  mis- 
sionaries; convert  all  infidels,  heretics,  and  sinners; 
bring  them  to  sincere  repentance.  Grant  the  grace  of 
a happy  death  to  all  who  are  now  in  their  agony;  have 
pity  on  the  holy  souls  suffering  in  purgatory  and  release 
them.  O my  Jesus,  grant  me  the  grace  of  final  per- 
severance and  fidelity  in  asking  for  it  every  day. 

Let  me  be  fortified  in  my  departure  for  eternity  by 


374 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


the  grace  of  Extreme  Unction  and  the  Holy  Viaticum. 
Save  me  through  the  mercy  of  Thy  divine  Heart,  grant 
me  the  grace  at  the  hour  of  my  death  to  love  Thee  with 
a disinterested  love  like  that  with  which  Thou  didst 
love  me  in  Thy  last  hour  on  the  cross. 

Bless  me,  O Lord,  as  Thou  didst  bless  the  little 
children  who  were  brought  to  Thee;  as  Thou  didst 
bless  Thy  disciples  at  Thy  glorious  ascension  into 
heaven,  so  that  I may  persevere  in  Thy  grace,  and  be 
numbered  on  the  last  day  among  the  elect,  whom  Thou 
wilt  call  the  blessed  of  Thy  Father  and  invite  into  Thy 
eternal  kingdom. 

Ejaculations  for  a J^appg  JBcatlj 

J?ESUS,  Mary,  and  Joseph,  I give  you  my  heart  and 
J my  soul. 

Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph,  assist  me  in  my  last  agony. 

Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph,  may  I breathe  forth  my 
soul  in  peace  with  you. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VII,  April  28, 
1807. 

Slctg  of  Jattlj,  ffio pe,  anb  Cfjarttg,  tn  tlje  ?|reg* 
tntz  of  tfje  331  eggeb  Sacrament 
&ct  of  JFaitlj 

O JESUS,  my  Lord,  my  God,  and  my  all!  I 
believe  that  Thou  art  in  Thy  living  manhood 
as  truly  present  here  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  as 
when  Thou  didst  walk  amidst  men  and  converse 
with  them.  Relying  on  Thy  word,  which  shall 
not  pass  away , I believe  that  Thou  art  here,  ever 
living  to  make  intercession  for  us.  Here  is  Thy 
sacred  body,  which  hung  upon  the  cross;  here  is 
Thy  soul,  which  was  sorrowful  unto  death  and 
agonized  in  the  Garden  of  Olives  on  account  of 
my  sins;  here  are  those  sacred  wounds  made  by 
the  nails  and  spear;  here  are  those  eyes  which 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  375 

looked  with  pity  and  love  on  the  penitent  Peter, 
now  gazing  into  my  heart,  now  raised  to  plead  for 
me  with  the  heavenly  Father;  here  are  those  ears, 
which  heard  the  cruel  cry  of  the  Jews,  “ Crucify 
Him,”  which  listened  so  compassionately  to  all 
the  ills  of  men,  and  which  now  are  listening  to  me. 

Lord,  I believe  that  here  on  the  altar  Thy 
wounded  Heart  is  beating  for  love  of  me,  and  I 
recall  Thy  blessed  words:  “ My  Heart  is  so  con- 
sumed with  love  for  men  that  it  can  no  longer 
restrain  the  flames  of  its  charity.”  Sweet  words 
of  Thine,  O blessed  Saviour!  I believe  that  they 
are  true,  and  true  as  regards  myself. 

— FATHER  RAMIERE,  S.  J. 

act  of  3§ope  and  Confidence  in  4Iod 

QY  GOD,  I believe  most  firmly  that  Thou 
watchest  over  all  who  hope  in  Thee,  and 
that  we  can  want  for  nothing  when  we  rely  upon 
Thee  in  all  things;  therefore  I am  resolved  for 
the  future  to  have  no  anxieties,  and  to  cast  all  my 
cares  upon  Thee.  “ In  peace  in  the  self-same  I 
will  sleep  and  I will  rest;  for  Thouy  O Lord}  sin- 
gularly hast  settled  me  in  hope” 

Men  may  deprive  me  of  worldly  goods  and  of 
honors;  sickness  may  take  from  me  my  strength 
and  the  means  of  serving  Thee;  I may  even  lose 
Thy  grace  by  sin;  but  my  trust  shall  never  leave 
me.  I will  preserve  it  to  the  last  moment  of  my 
life,  and  the  powers  of  hell  shall  seek  in  vain  to 
wrest  it  from  me.  “ In  peace  in  the  self-same  I 
will  sleep  and  I will  rest” 

Let  others  seek  happiness  in  their  wealth,  in 
their  talents;  let  them  trust  to  the  purity  of  their 
lives,  the  severity  of  their  mortifications,  to  the 


376  PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 

number  of  their  good  works,  the  fervor  of  their 
prayers;  as  for  me,  O my  God,  in  my  very  con- 
fidence lies  all  my  hope.  “ For  Thou , O Lord , 
singularly  hast  settled  me  in  hope  ” This  confi- 
dence can  never  be  vain.  “ No  one  has  hoped 
in  the  Lord  and  has  been  confounded .” 

I am  assured,  therefore,  of  my  eternal  happi- 
ness, for  I firmly  hope  for  it,  and  all  my  hope  is  in 
Thee.  “ In  Theey  O Lordy  have  I hoped;  let  me 
never  be  confounded .” 

I know,  alas,  I know  but  too  well  that  I am  frail 
and  changeable;  I know  the  power  of  temptation 
against  the  strongest  virtue.  I have  seen  stars 
fall  from  heaven,  and  pillars  of  the  firmament 
totter;  but  these  things  alarm  me  not..  While  I 
hope  in  Thee  l am  sheltered  from  all  misfortune, 
and  I am  sure  that  my  trust  shall  endure,  for  I 
rely  upon  Thee  to  sustain  this  unfailing  hope. 

Finally,  I know  that  my  confidence  can  not 
exceed  Thy  bounty,  and  that  I shall  never  receive 
less  than  I have  hoped  for  from  Thee.  There- 
fore, I hope  that  Thou  wilt  sustain  me  against  my 
evil  inclinations ; that  Thou  wilt  protect  me 
against  the  most  furious  assaults  of  the  evil  one, 
and  that  Thou  wilt  cause  my  weakness  to  triumph 
over  my  most  powerful  enemies.  I hope  that 
Thou  wilt  never  cease  to  love  me,  and  that  I shall 
love  Thee  unceasingly.  “ In  Theey  O Lordy  have 
I hopedy  let  me  never  be  confounded .” 

— REV.  CLAUDE  DE  LA  COLOMBIERE,  S.  J. 

&ct  of  (£fjaritg 

OGOOD  and  merciful  Saviour,  it  is  the  desire 
of  my  heart  to  return  Thee  love  for  love. 
My  greatest  sorrow  is  that  Thou  art  not  loved  by 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  377 

men,  and,  in  particular,  that  my  own  heart  is  so 
cold,  so  selfish,  so  ungrateful.  Deeply  sensible 
of  my  own  weakness  and  poverty,  I trust  that 
Thy  own  grace  will  enable  me  to  offer  Thee  an 
act  of  pure  love.  And  I wish  to  offer  Thee  this 
act  of  love  in  reparation  for  the  coldness  and  neg- 
lect that  are  shown  to  Thee  in  the  Sacrament  of 
Thy  love  by  Thy  creatures.  O Jesus,  my  sover- 
eign good,  I love  Thee,  not  for  the  sake  of  the 
reward  which  Thou  hast  promised  to  those  who 
love  Thee,  but  purely  for  Thyself  I love  Thee 
above  all  things  that  can  be  loved,  above  all  pleas- 
ures, and  in  fine  above  myself  and  all  that  is  not 
Thee,  protesting  in  the  presence  of  heaven  and 
earth  that  I will  live  and  die  purely  and  simply  in 
Thy  holy  love,  and  that  if  to  love  Thee  thus  I must 
endure  persecution  and  suffering  I am  perfectly 
satisfied,  and  I will  ever  say  with  St.  Paul: 
“ Nothing  shall  separate  me  from  the  love  of 
Christ.”  O Jesus,  supreme  master  of  all  hearts, 
I love  Thee,  I adore  Thee,  I thank  Thee,  because 
I am  now  all  Thine  awn.  Rule  over  me,  and  trans- 
form my  soul  into  the  likeness  of  Thyself,  so  that 
it  may  bless  and  glorify  Thee  forever  in  the  abode 
of  the  saints.  (According  to  Blessed  Margaret 
Mary.) 

^rager  for  ©reater  ILote  of  Jfesus 

OMY  Jesus,  Thou  knowest  well  that  I love 
Thee;  but  I do  not  love  Thee  enough;  O 
grant  that  I may  love  Thee  more.  O love  that 
burnest  ever  and  never  failest,  my  God,  Thou  Who 
art  charity  itself,  enkindle  in  my  heart  that  divine 
fire  which  consumes  the  saints  and  transforms 
them  into  Thee.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  50  days,  twice  a day.  — Leo  XIII, 
Feb.  6,  1893. 


378  PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 

fEjacuiattons 


3 


ESUS,  my  God,  I love  Thee  above  all  things. 


Indulgence  of  50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  May  7, 
1854. 


£ct  of  Contrition 


OMY  God!  I am  heartily  sorry  for  having 
offended  Thee;  and  I detest  my  sins  above 
every  other  evil,  because  they  displease  Thee,  my 
God,  Who  for  Thy  infinite  goodness  art  so  deserv- 
ing of  all  my  love;  and  I firmly  resolve,  by  Thy 
holy  grace,  never  more  to  offend  Thee,  and  to 
amend  my  life. 


'Enotfjer  &ct  of  Contrition 

OMY  God,  how  little  have  I served  Thee  in 
time  past!  How  greatly  have  I sinned 
against  Thee!  I acknowledge  my  iniquity,  and 
my  sin  is  always  before  me.  But  I repent,  my 
Lord,  I repent.  I grieve  from  the  depths  of  my 
heart  for  having  lost  that  time  in  offending  Thee 
which  Thou  gavest  me  to  be  employed  in  Thy 
service,  in  advancing  the  good  of  my  soul,  and 
obtaining  everlasting  life.  I detest  all  the  sins 
which  I have  committed  against  Thy  divine 
majesty,  and  I resolve  never  to  offend  Thee  again. 
I am  sorry  that  I have  sinned,  because  Thou  art 
infinitely  good  and  sin  is  infinitely  displeasing  to 
Thee.  I love  Thee  with  my  whole  heart  — at 
least  I desire  so  to  do  — and  I firmly  purpose, 
with  the  help  of  Thy  grace,  to  serve  Thee  more 
faithfully  for  the  time  to  come.  Receive,  I be- 
seech Thee,  the  offering  I now  make  to  Thee  of 
the  remainder  of  my  life.  I renew  the  promises 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  379 

made  in  my  baptism.  I renounce  the  devil  and 
all  his  works,  the  world  and  all  its  pomps.  I will 
take  particular  care  to  avoid  the  failings  I am  so 
apt  to  commit,  and  to  exercise  the  virtues  most 
agreeable  to  my  state  and  employment.  Be 
Thou,  O Lord,  my  keeper  for  the  time  to  come, 
and  give  me  a penitential  spirit  that  I may  daily 
offer  henceforward  to  Thee  the  sacrifice  of  a con- 
trite and  humble  heart.  I desire  by  Thy  grace 
to  make  satisfaction  for  my  sins  by  worthy  fruits 
of  penance;  and  I willingly  accept  from  Thy 
hands  whatever  pains,  crosses,  and  sufferings  I 
shall  meet  with  during  the  remainder  of  my  life, 
or  at  my  death,  as  just  punishments  of  my  iniqui- 
ties, begging  Thee  that  they  may  be  united  to  the 
sufferings  and  death  of  my  Redeemer,  and  sanc- 
tified by  His  passion,  in  which  is  all  my  hope  for 
mercy,  grace,  and  salvation.  Amen. 


Ejaculation 


contrite  heart. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII, 
Sept.  13,  1893. 


act  of  Consecration  bg  ISlesseb  Hftargaret  jWarg 

I,  N.  N.,  give  and  consecrate  to  the  Sacred 
Heart  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  my  person 
and  my  life,  my  actions,  penances,  and  sufferings, 
not  wishing  to  make  use  of  any  part  of  my  being 
for  the  future  except  in  honoring,  loving,  and 
glorifying  that  Sacred  Heart. 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


380 

It  is  my  irrevocable  will  to  be  entirely  His,  and 
to  do  everything  for  His  love,  renouncing  with 
my  whole  heart  whatever  might  displease  Him. 

I take  Thee,  then,  O most  sacred  Heart,  as  the 
sole  object  of  my  love,  as  the  protector  of  my  life, 
as  the  pledge  of  my  salvation,  as  the  remedy  of 
my  frailty  and  inconstancy,  as  the  repairer  of  all 
the  defects  of  my  life,  and  as  my  secure  refuge  in 
the  hour  of  death. 

Be  then,  O Heart  of  goodness,  my  justification 
before  God  the  Father,  and  remove  far  from  me 
the  thunderbolts  of  His  just  wrath.  O Heart  of 
love,  I place  my  whole  confidence  in  Thee. 
While  I fear  all  things  from  my  malice  and  frailty, 
I hope  all  things  from  Thy  goodness. 

Consume,  then,  in  me  whatever  can  displease 
or  be  opposed  to  Thee,  and  may  Thy  pure  love 
be  so  deeply  impressed  upon  my  heart  that  it  may 
be  impossible  that  I should  ever  be  separated 
from  Thee,  or  forget  Thee. 

I implore  Thee,  by  all  Thy  goodness,  that  my 
name  may  be  written  in  Thee,  for  in  Thee  I wish 
to  place  all  my  happiness  and  all  my  glory,  living 
and  dying  in  very  bondage  to  Thee.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII, 
Jan.  13,  1898;  Pius  X,  May  30,  1908. 

^Ejaculation  of  BlesseU  fHargaret  fEarg 

O HEART  of  love,  I place  all  my  trust  in  Thee: 

for  though  I fear  all  things  from  my  weakness, 
I hope  all  things  from  Thy  mercies. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  June  3, 
1908. 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  381 


© 


Ejaculations 

AY  the  Heart  of  Jesus  be  loved  everywhere. 


Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Sept. 
23,  i860. 


All  for  Thee,  most  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus. 
Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov. 
26,  1908. 

Consecration  to  tfje  &acretJ  J^eart 

O JESUS,  I consecrate  to  Thee  my  heart;  place  it 
within  Thine  own.  It  is  in  Thy  Heart  I wish  to 
dwell,  through  Thy  Heart  I wish  to  love,  and  in  Thy 
Heart  that  I desire  to  repose,  unknown  to  the  world 
and  known  to  Thee  alone.  It  is  from  this  Heart  of 
Thine  that  I would  draw  that  ardent  love  which  should 
consume  my  own,  and  by  which  I shall  find  strength, 
light,  courage,  and  true  consolation.  When  I languish, 
it  will  animate  me;  when  sad,  it  will  give  me  joy; 
when  afflicted  and  in  trouble,  it  will  encourage  me. 

O Heart  of  Jesus,  let  my  heart  be  the  altar  of  Thy 
love,  my  tongue  publish  Thy  goodness,  my  eyes  be 
unceasingly  fixed  on  Thy  wounds,  my  mind  meditate 
on  Thy  adorable  perfections,  my  memory  preserve  for- 
ever the  precious  remembrance  of  Thy  mercies;  let 
everything  in  me  express  my  love  for  Thee,  O Jesus, 
and  my  heart  be  ever  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice  for 
Thee. 

O Heart  of  Mary,  after  the  Heart  of  Jesus  the  most 
loving,  compassionate,  and  merciful  of  all  hearts,  present 
to  the  Heart  of  thy  Son  this  my  consecration,  my  love, 
my  resolution.  That  Heart  will  be  softened  at  the 
sight  of  my  miseries,  and  will  deliver  me  from  them; 
. and  after  having  been  my  protectress  in  this  world,  O 
Mother  of  Jesus,  be  thou  my  Queen  in  heaven.  Amen. 


382 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


<Ect  of  0fciatton  to  be  Uftatie  before  a Representation  of 
tfje  &acreti  ?§eart 

^pvY  loving  Jesus,  out  of  the  grateful  love  I bear 
f\l/  Thee,  and  to  make  reparation  for  my  unfaith- 
fulness to  grace,  I,  N.  N.,  give  Thee  my  heart,  and  I 
consecrate  myself  wholly  to  Thee;  and  with  Thy  help 
I purpose  never  to  sin  again. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  June  18, 
1876. 

jhtfmlgenceti  &cts  of  Uebotton  tn  J^onor  of  tlje  fEurijartsttc 
J^cart  of  3esus 

Commemorative  of  the  incarnation , the  life , the  pas- 
sion, and  the  death  of  our  loving  Saviour.  Excellent 
acts  of  adoration , thanksgiving , reparation , supplication , 
and  consecration. 

I.  *^*HE  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  amongst 

us. 

f^fTERNAL  Word,  made  man  for  love  of  us,  humbly 
kneeling  at  Thy  feet  we  adore  Thee  with  the 
deepest  veneration  of  our  souls ; and,  in  order  that  we 
may  repair  our  ingratitude  for  this  great  benefit  of  Thy 
incarnation,  we  unite  ourselves  to  the  hearts  of  all 
those  who  love  Thee,  and  together  with  them  we  offer 
Thee  our  humble,  loving  thanksgiving.  Pierced  by  the 
excess  of  humility,  goodness,  and  sweetness  which  we 
behold  in  Thy  divine  Heart,  we  beseech  Thee  to  give 
us  Thy  grace,  that  in  our  lives  we,  too,  may  imitate 
these  virtues  so  dear  to  Thee. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  and  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 

II. 


'Tp^E  was  crucified  also  for  us;  stiff ered  under 
Pontius  Pilate,  and  was  buried. 

J7ESUS,  our  loving  Saviour,  humbly  kneeling  at  Thy 
J feet  we  adore  Thee  with  the  deepest  veneration  of 
our  souls;  and,  in  order  that  we  may  give  Thee  proof 
of  the  sorrow  we  feel  at  our  insensibility  to  the  outrages 
and  sufferings  which  Thy  loving  Heart  made  Thee 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  383 


undergo  for  our  salvation  in  Thy  painful  passion  and 
death,  we  here  unite  ourselves  with  the  hearts  of  all 
those  who  love  Thee,  and  together  with  them  we  give 
thanks  unto  Thee  with  our  whole  soul.  We  wonder 
at  the  boundless  patience  and  generosity  of  Thy 
divine  Heart;  and  we  entreat  Thee  to  fill  our  hearts 
with  such  a spirit  of  Christian  penance  as  may  enable 
us  courageously  to  embrace  suffering,  and  to  make 
Thy  cross  our  great  comfort  and  all  our  glory. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  and  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 


HOU  didst  give  them  bread  from  heaven  to 
eat,  containing  in  itself  all  sweetness. 


J7ESUS,  Who  dost  bum  with  love  for  us,  humbly 
J kneeling  at  Thy  feet  we  adore  Thee  with  the  deep- 
est veneration  of  our  souls;  and,  in  order  to  make  Thee 
reparation  for  the  outrages  which  Thy  divine  Heart 
daily  receives  in  the  most  holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar, 
we  unite  ourselves  with  the  hearts  of  all  those  who  love 
Thee,  and  give  Thee  tenderest  thanks.  We  love  in 
Thy  divine  Heart  this  Thy  incomprehensible  fire  of  love 
toward  Thy  eternal  Father,  and  we  entreat  Thee  to  in- 
flame our  hearts  with  ardent  charity  toward  Thee  and 
toward  our  neighbor. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  and  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 


EASTLY,  O most  loving  Jesus,  we  pray  Thee,  by 
the  sweetness  of  Thy  divine  Heart,  convert  the 
sinner,  console  the  afflicted,  help  the  dying,  lighten  the 
pains  of  the  souls  in  purgatory.  Make  all  our  hearts 
one  in  the  bonds  of  true  peace  and  charity,  deliver  us 
from  sudden  and  unforeseen  death,  and  grant  us  a 
death  holy  and  peaceful.  Amen. 

V.  Heart  of  Jesus,  burning  with  love  of  us, 

R.  Inflame  our  hearts  with  love  of  Thee. 


Let  us  pray 

y^(RANT,  we  beseech  Thee,  almighty  God,  that  we 
V5)  who  glory  in  the  most  sacred  Heart  of  Thy  well- 
beloved  Son,  and  call  to  mind  the  chief  benefits  of  His 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


384 

heavenly  charity  toward  us,  may  be  gladdened  by  the 
operation  and  the  fruit  of  those  graces  in  our  souls. 
Through  the  same  Christ,  etc. 

O divine  Heart  of  my  Jesus,  I adore  Thee  with  all 
the  powers  of  my  soul ; I consecrate  them  to  Thee  for 
ever,  together  with  all  my  thoughts,  my  words,  my 
works,  and  my  whole  self.  I purpose  to  offer  to  Thee, 
as  far  as  I am  able,  acts  of  adoration,  love,  and  glory, 
like  unto  those  which  Thou  dost  offer  to  Thine  eternal 
Father.  I beseech  Thee,  be  Thou  the  reparation  for 
my  transgressions,  the  protector  of  my  life,  my  refuge 
and  asylum  in  the  hour  of  my  death.  By  Thy  sighs, 
and  by  that  sea  of  bitterness  in  which  Thou  wast  im- 
mersed for  me  throughout  the  whole  course  of  Thy 
mortal  life,  grant  me  true  contrition  for  my  sins,  con- 
tempt of  earthly  things,  an  ardent  longing  for  the  glory 
of  heaven,  trust  in  Thy  infinite  merits,  and  final  per- 
severance in  Thy  grace. 

Heart  of  Jesus,  all  love,  I offer  Thee  these  humble 
prayers  for  myself,  and  for  all  who  unite  with  me  in  « 
spirit  to  adore  Thee ; vouchsafe  of  Thy  infinite  goodness 
to  receive  and  to  answer  them,  and  especially  for  that 
one  of  us  who  shall  first  end  this  mortal  life.  Sweet 
Heart  of  my  Saviour,  pour  down  upon  him,  in  the  agony 
of  death,  Thine  inward  consolations;  place  him  in  Thy 
sacred  wounds,  cleanse  him  from  every  stain  in  that 
furnace  of  love,  that  so  Thou  mayest  open  to  him 
speedily  the  entrance  into  Thy  glory,  there  to  intercede 
with  Thee  for  all  those  who  yet  tarry  in  their  land  of 
exile. 

Most  holy  Heart  of  my  most  loving  Jesus,  I purpose 
to  renew  these  acts  of  adoration  and  these  prayers  for 
myself,  miserable  sinner  that  I am,  as  well  as  for  all 
who  are  associated  with  me  to  adore  Thee,  every 
moment  while  I live,  down  to  the  last  instant  of  my  life. 

I recommend  to  Thee,  my  Jesus,  the  holy  Church,  Thy 
well-beloved  spouse,  our  own  true  Mother,  the  souls 
that  undergo  Thy  justice,  all  poor  sinners,  those  who 
are  in  affliction,  the  dying,  and  all  mankind  — let  not 
Thy  blood  be  shed  in  vain  for  them;  and,  last  of  all, 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  385 


vouchsafe  to  receive  my  poor  prayers  for  the  relief  of 
the  souls  in  purgatory,  and,  above  all,  for  those  who  in 
the  course  of  their  lives  were  wont  devoutly  to  adore 
Thee. 

Most  loving  heart  of  Mary,  which,  amongst  the  hearts 
of  all  creatures  of  God,  is  at  once  the  most  pure,  most 
inflamed  with  love  for  Jesus,  and  most  compassionate 
towards  us  poor  sinners,  gain  for  us  from  the  Heart  of 
Jesus,  our  Redeemer,  all  the  graces  which  we  ask  of 
thee.  Mother  of  mercies,  one  single  throb,  one  beat 
of  thy  heart,  all  on  fire  with  love  towards  the  Heart  of 
Jesus,  has  power  to  console  us  to  the  full.  Only  grant 
us  this  favor  and  the  Heart  of  Jesus,  out  of  that  filial 
love  it  had  and  will  ever  have  for  thee,  will  not  fail  to 
hear  and  answer  us.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  VII,  Feb.  12, 
1808. 


Ejaculations 


er 


TJCHARISTIC  Heart  of  Jesus,  have  mercy  on 
us! 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Dec.  26, 
1907. 


Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  I trust  in  Thee! 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  June  27, 
1906. 

Divine  Heart  of  Jesus,  convert  sinners,  save  the 
dying,  set  free  the  holy  souls  in  purgatory. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  6, 
1906. 

Mary,  our  hope,  have  pity  on  us. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  January  8, 
1906. 


Entiulgenceti  <Ects  of  Quotation  anti  ^Tijanksgibing 


'DORAMUS  te, 
Christo;  et 
benedicimus  tibi. 


V. 


yr7TT'E  ADORE  Thee, 
VJcAf  Christ;  and  we 


bless  Thee. 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


386 


R.  Quia  per  sanctam 
crucem  tuam  redemisti 
mundum. 


R.  Because  by  Thy  holy 
cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world. 


I ADORE  Thee,  eternal  Father,  and  I give  Thee 
thanks  for  the  infinite  love  with  which  Thou  didst 
deign  to  send  Thine  only-begotten  Son  to  redeem  me, 
and  to  become  the  food  of  my  soul.  I offer  Thee  all  the 
acts  of  adoration  and  thanksgiving  that  are  offered  to 
Thee  by  the  angels  and  saints  in  heaven  and  by  the 
just  on  earth.  I praise,  love,  and  thank  Thee  with  all 
the  praise,  love,  and  thanksgiving  that  are  offered  to 
Thee  by  Thine  own  Son  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament;  and 
I beg  Thee  to  grant  that  He  may  be  known,  loved, 
honored,  praised,  and  worthily  received  by  all,  in  this 
most  divine  Sacrament. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 


I AD  ORE  Thee,  eternal  Son,  and  I thank  Thee  for 
the  infinite  love  which  caused  Thee  to  become 
man  for  me;  to  be  born  in  a stable;  to  live  in  poverty; 
to* suffer  hunger,  thirst,  heat,  cold,  fatigue,  hardships, 
contempt,  persecutions,  the  scourging,  the  crowning 
with  thorns,  and  a cruel  death  upon  the  hard  wood  of 
the  cross.  I thank  Thee,  with  the  Church  Militant 
and  Triumphant,  for  the  infinite  love  with  which  Thou 
didst  institute  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  to  be  the 
food  of  my  soul. 


I AD  ORE  Thee  in  all  the  consecrated  Hosts  through- 
out the  whole  world,  and  I return  thanks  for  those 
who  know  Thee  not,  and  who  do  not  thank  Thee. 
Would  that  I were  able  to  give  my  life  to  make  Thee 
known,  loved,  and  honored  by  all,  in  this  Sacrament  of 
Love,  and  to  prevent  the  irreverences  and  sacrileges 
that  are  committed  against  Thee!  I love  Thee,  divine 
Jesus,  and  I desire  to  receive  Thee  with  all  the  purity, 
love,  and  affection  of  Thy  blessed  mother,  and  with 
the  love  and  affection  of  Thine  own  most  pure  Heart. 
Grant,  O most  amiable  Spouse  of  my  soul,  in  coming 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  387 

to  me  in  this  most  holy  Sacrament,  that  I may  receive 
all  the  graces  and  blessings  which  Thou  dost  come  to 
bestow  on  us,  and  let  me  rather  die  than  receive  Thee 
unworthily. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 

I AD  ORE  Thee,  eternal  Holy  Ghost,  and  I give  Thee 
thanks  for  the  infinite  love  with  which  Thou  didst 
work  the  ineffable  mystery  of  the  Incarnation,  and  for 
the  infinite  love  with  which  Thou  didst  form  the  sacred 
body  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  out  of  the  most  pure 
blood  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  become  in  this  Sac- 
rament the  food  of  my  soul.  I beg  Thee  to  enlighten 
my  mind  and  to  purify  my  heart  and  the  hearts  of  all 
men,  that  all  may  know  the  benefit  of  Thy  love,  and 
receive  worthily  this  Most  Blessed  Sacrament. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 


&antum  lErgo 


ANTUM  ergo  Sacra- 
mentum 
Veneremur  cernui: 

Et  antiquum  documentum 

Novo  cedat  ritui: 

Praestet  tides  supplemen- 
tum 

Sensuum  defectui. 


Genitori,  Genitoque 
Laus  et  jubilatio: 

Salus,  honor,  virtus  quo- 
que, 

Sit  et  benedictio: 


OWN  in  adoration 
falling, 

Lo!  the  sacred  Host  we 
hail. 

Lo!  o’er  ancient  forms  de- 
parting, 

Newer  rites  of  grace  pre- 
vail ; 

Faith  for  all  defect  supply- 
ing 

Where  the  feeble  senses 
fail. 

To  the  everlasting  Father, 

And  the  Son  Who  reigns  on 
high, 

With  the  Holy  Ghost  pro- 
ceeding 

Forth  from  each  eternally,. 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


388 

Procedenti  ab  utroque 

Compar  sit  laudatio. 

V.  Panem  de  ccelo  prae- 
stitisti  eis. 

R.  Omne  delectamen- 
tum  in  se  habentem. 

Oremus 

EUS,  qui  nobis  sub 
Sacramento  mirabili 
passionis  tuas  memoriam 
reliquisti:  tribue,  quaesu- 
mus,  ita  nos  corporis  et 
sanguinis  tui  sacramysteria 
venerari,  ut  redemptionis 
tuae  fructum  in  nobis  jugi- 
ter  sentiamus.  Qui  vivis 
et  regnas  in  saecula  saecu- 
lorum. 

R.  Amen. 


Be  salvation,  honor,  bless- 
ing, 

Might  and  endless  ma- 
jesty! 

V.  Thou  didst  give  them 
bread  from  heaven. 

R.  Containing  in  itself 
all  sweetness. 

Let  us  pray 

OGOD,  Who  under  this 
wonderful  Sacrament 
hast  left  us  a memorial  of 
Thy  passion ; grant  us,  we 
beseech  thee,  so  to  vener- 
ate the  sacred  mysteries  of 
Thy  body  and  blood  that 
we  may  ever  feel  within  us 
the  fruit  of  Thy  redemption. 
Who  livest  and  reignest, 
world  without  end. 

R.  Amen. 


The  Sovereign  Pontiff,  Pius  VI,  by  a rescript  from  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  Memorials,  October  17,  1796, 
granted: 

1.  A plenary  indulgence  to  all  the  faithful  who,  being 
truly  penitent,  after  confession  and  communion  on  the  first 
Thursday  of  every  month,  shall  visit  with  devotion  the  Most 
Blessed  Sacrament,  exposed  for  public  adoration  or  inclosed 
in  the  tabernacle,  and  say  these  prayers,  praying,  moreover, 
for  the  welfare  of  the  Catholic  Church,  for  the  extirpation  of 
heresy,  and  for  the  intention  of  the  Pope. 

2.  An  indulgence  of  seven  years  and  seven  quarantines, 
on  all  the  other  Thursdays  of  the  year,  to  those  who  shall 
say  them,  in  the  way  and  on  the  conditions  just  mentioned. 

3.  An  indulgence  of  one  hundred  days,  on  any  other  day 
of  the  year,  to  those  who  shall  say  them,  with  at  least  con- 
trite heart. 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  389 
Bet  of  Reparation  to  Jesus  in  tfj e Rlesseti  Sacrament 

J7ESUS,  my  God,  my  Saviour,  true  God  and  true 
J man,  in  that  lowly  homage  with  which  the  Faith 
itself  inspires  me,  with  my  whole  heart  I adore  and 
love  Thee  in  the  Most  August  Sacrament  of  the  Altar, 
in  reparation  for  all  the  acts  of  irreverence,  profanation, 
and  sacrilege,  which  I myself  may  ever  have  been  so 
unhappy  as  to  have  committed,  as  well  as  for  all  such 
like  acts  that  ever  have  been  done  by  others,  or  that 
may  be  done  in  ages  yet  to  come.  I adore  Thee,  my 
God,  not  indeed  as  Thou  deservest,  nor  as  much  as  I 
am  bound  to  adore,  but  as  far  as  I am  able ; and  I would 
that  I could  adore  Thee  with  all  the  perfection  of  which 
a reasonable  creature  is  capable.  Meantime  I purpose 
now  and  ever  to  adore  Thee,  not  only  for  those  Catho- 
lics who  adore  and  love  Thee  not,  but  also  for  the  con- 
version of  all  bad  Christians,  and  of  all  heretics,  schis- 
matics, Mohammedans,  Jews  and  idolaters.  Jesus,  my 
God,  mayest  Thou  be  ever  known,  adored,  loved,  and 
praised  every  moment,  in  the  most  holy  and  divine 
Sacrament.  Amen. 

I ADORE  Thee  every  moment,  O living  bread  of 
heaven,  great  Sacrament! 

Jesus,  treasure  of  Mary’s  heart,  I pray  Thee  send 
Thy  blessing  on  my  soul. 

Holiest  Jesus,  loving  Saviour,  I give  Thee  my  heart. 
Indulgence  of  200  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VII,  Jan.  21, 
1815. 


act  of  Reparation  of  J^onor  to  0ur  ILorU  Jesus  01jrist  Jn 
tl je  Htflost  adorable  Sacrament  of  tfje  altar1 

For  Members  of  the  Tabernacle  Society 

IN  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  Amen. 


1 Our  Holy  Father,  Pope  Leo  XIII,  by  a rescript  of  the  S. 
Cong,  of  Indulgences,  Dec.  20,  1879,  has  vouchsafed  to  grant 


390 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


/T)OST  adorable  Saviour,  by  the  most  wonder- 
ful  prodigy  of  Thy  love  for  us,  Thou  dost 
remain  hidden  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  of 
the  Altar,  in  order  to  be  the  perpetual  sacrifice  of 
the  New  Law,  the  innocent  victim  for  our  sins, 
the  celestial  food  of  our  souls,  our  kind  physician, 
our  good  master,  our  powerful  mediator,  and  our 
loving  father.  But,  alas,  with  what  ingratitude, 
on  our  part,  Thine  infinite  kindness  is  repaid! 

Prostrate  before  Thine  altar,  where  Thou  art 
as  really  present  as  in  the  highest  heavens,  we 
come  to  make  reparation  for  all  the  injuries  and 
for  all  the  ingratitude  inflicted  on  Thy  loving 
Heart  in  this  Sacrament. 

O divine  Jesus,  grant  us  to  make  a fitting  repa- 
ration for  all  blasphemies,  all  profanations,  and 
all  sacrileges  ever  committed,  for  the  want  of 
devotion  and  neglect  of  preparation  for  holy  com- 
munion, for  the  little  fruit  we  have  drawn  from  it. 

Pardon,  O Lord,  pardon,  for  so  many  Chris- 
tians who  know  Thee  not  and  who  offend  Thee; 
for  so  many  heretics  who  insult  Thee,  for  so  many 
impious  men  and  apostates  who  persecute  Thee. 
By  the  fervor  of  our  love  we  would  wish  to  make 
amends  to  Thee  for  all  their  contempt  and  for  all 
their  sacrileges. 

How  happy  should  we  be,  O Jesus,  could  we 
but  make  reparation  to  Thy  glory  by  our  respect, 
by  our  zeal,  aye,  even  by  the  shedding  of  our  blood. 
At  least,  most  adorable  Saviour,  grant  us  the  grace 
to  love  Thee  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the 

once  a day  to  associates  of  the  Arch-Association  of  Perpetual 
Adoration  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  and  Work  for  Poor 
Churches,  who  recite  with  contrite  heart  the  act  of  repara- 
tion, an  indulgence  of  ioo  days,  applicable  to  the  souls  in 
purgatory. 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


Altar,  with  the  most  tender,  the  most  generous, 
the  most  perfect,  the  most  constant  love. 

Virgin  most  holy,  by  thy  holy  and  immaculate 
heart,  make  us  enter  into  the  adorable  Heart  of 
thy  divine  Son,  Jesus  Christ. 

(From  “ Rules  of  the  Arch-Association  of  Perpetual 
Adoration  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  and  Work  for  Poor 
Churches,”  established  at  Rome,  Via  Nomentana, 
No.  4.) 

Ejaculations 

/TvAY  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament  be  praised,  adored,  and  loved 
with  grateful  affection,  at  every  moment,  in  all 
the  tabernacles  of  the  world,  even  to  the  end  of 
time.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  ioq,  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Feb. 
29,  1868. 

O SACRAMENT  most  holy,  O Sacrament  divine, 
All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every 
moment  Thine  ! 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  April 
10,  1913. 


^ragcr  to  ®ur  ILorti  in  tfje  Blessed  Sacrament 

OUR  sins,  O Lord,  darken  our  minds,  and  we  lose 
the  benefit  of  loving  Thee  as  Thou  deservest.  En- 
lighten us  with  a ray  of  Thy  bright  light.  Thou  art 
Friend,  Redeemer,  Father  of  all  who  turn  repentant  to 
Thy  Heart;  and  we  return  to  Thee  sorrowing.  Save 
us,  O Jesus;  provide  out  of  Thy  infinite  bounty  for  our 
miseries.  O Jesus,  we  hope  in  Thee  because  we  know 
that  our  salvation  cost  Thee  Thy  life  sacrificed  upon  the 
cross,  and  induced  Thee  to  dwell  continuously  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  in  order  to  be  united  with  us  as 
often  as  we  desire.  We,  O Lord,  to  thank  Thee  for 


392 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


the  great  love  Thou  bearest  us,  promise  with  the  help 
of  Thy  grace  to  receive  Thee  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament 
as  often  as  possible ; to  declare  Thy  praises  in  church 
and  in  every  place,  without  human  respect.  O Lord, 
confiding  in  Thy  sacred  Heart,  we  beseech  Thee  to 
preserve  in  Thy  love  those  who  love  Thee,  and  to  invite 
all  to  receive  Thee  daily  at  the  altar  in  accordance  with 
Thy  burning  desire. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  July  6,  1906. 


drapers  tmring  a procession  of  tije  Blesseti  Sacrament 

OUR  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 
Then  say  ten  times: 

V.  Let  us  every  moment  praise  the  Most  Holy  Sac- 
rament. 

R . May  our  God,  present  in  the  Sacrament,  be  now 
and  ever  praised. 

Repeat  Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  etc.y  as  often  as 
needed . 

Indulgence  of  300  days.  — Pius  X,  August  n,  1906. 


Offering  to  tlje  &acre&  J^eart  of  Jesus 

|T|Y  LOVING  Jesus,  I,  N.  N.,  give  Thee  my  heart, 
and  I consecrate  myself  wholly  to  Thee,  out  of 
the  grateful  love  I bear  Thee,  and  as  a reparation  for 
all  my  unfaithfulness,  and  with  Thy  aid  I purpose  never 
to  sin  again. 

V.  Heart  of  Jesus,  burning  with  love  of  us, 

R.  Inflame  our  hearts  with  love  of  Thee. 


Let  us  pray 

— * ORD,  we  beseech  Thee,  let  Thy  Holy  Spirit  kindle 
1 1 1 in  our  hearts  that  fire  of  charity  which  Our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  Thy  Son,  sent  forth  from  His  inmost 
Heart  upon  this  earth,  and  willed  that  it  should  burn 
with  vehemence.  Who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  Thee, . 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


393 

in  the  unity  of  the  same  Holy  Spirit,  God,  for  ever  and 
ever.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time,  and  plenary  indulgence 
once  a month  on  usual  conditions.  — Pius  VII,  March  20, 
1815. 

act  of  Reparation  to  tlje  &acretJ  Jgeart  of  Jesus 

Usually  Said  on  the  First  Friday  of  the  Month 

Vt^DORABLE  Heart  of  Jesus,  glowing  with 
JX  love  for  us  and  inflamed  with  zeal  for  our 
salvation:  O Heart  ever  sensible  of  our  misery 
and  the  wretchedness  to  which  our  sins  have  re- 
duced us,  infinitely  rich  in  mercy  to  heal  the 
wounds  of  our  souls,  behold  us  humbly  prostrate 
before  Thee  to  express  the  sorrow  that  fills  our 
hearts  for  the  coldness  and  indifference  with 
which  we  have  so  long  requited  the  numberless 
benefits  that  Thou  hast  conferred  upon  us.  With 
a deep  sense  of  the  outrages  that  have  been 
heaped  upon  Thee  by  our  sins  and  the  sins  of 
others,  we  come  to  make  a solemn  reparation  of 
honor  to  Thy  most  sacred  majesty.  It  was  our 
sins  that  overwhelmed  Thy  Heart  with  bitterness; 
it  was  the  weight  of  our  iniquities  that  pressed 
down  Thy  face  to  the  earth  in  the  Garden  of 
Olives  and  caused  Thee  to  expire  in  anguish  and 
agony  on  the  cross.  But  now,  repenting  and  sor- 
rowful, we  cast  ourselves  at  Thy  feet  and  implore 
forgiveness.  Adorable  Heart  of  Jesus,  source  of 
true  contrition  and  ever  merciful  to  the  penitent 
sinner,  impart  to  our  hearts  the  spirit  of  penance, 
and  give  to  our  eyes  a fountain  of  tears,  that  we 
may  sincerely  bewail  our  sins  now  and  for  the 
rest  of  our  days.  Oh,  would  that  we  could  blot 
them  out,  even  with  our  blood!  Pardon  them,  O 
Lord,  in  Thy  mercy,  and  pardon  and  convert  to 


394 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


Thee  all  that  have  committed  irreverences  and 
sacrileges  against  Thee  in  the  Sacrament  of  Thy 
love,  and  thus  give  another  proof  that  Thy  mercy 
is  above  all  Thy  works.  Divine  Jesus,  with  Thee 
there  are  mercy  and  plentiful  redemption:  de- 
liver us  from  our  sins,  accept  the  sincere  desire 
we  now  entertain,  and  our  holy  resolution,  rely- 
ing on  the  assistance  of  Thy  grace,  henceforth  to 
be  faithful  to  Thee.  And  in  order  to  repair  the 
sins  of  ingratitude  by  which  we  have  grieved  Thy 
most  tender  and  loving  Heart,  we  are  resolved  in 
the  future  ever  to  love  and  honor  Thee  in  the 
Most  Adorable  Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  where 
Thou  art  ever  present  to  hear  and  grant  our  peti- 
tions, and  to  be  the  food  and  life  of  our  souls. 
Be  Thou,  O compassionate  Jesus,  our  Mediator 
with  Thy  heavenly  Father,  Whom  we  have  so 
grievously  offended,  strengthen  our  weakness, 
confirm  these  our  resolutions  of  amendment,  and 
as  Thy  sacred  Heart  is  our  refuge  and  our  hope 
when  we  have  sinned,  so  may  it  be  the  strength 
and  support  of  our  repentance,  that  nothing  in 
life  or  death  may  ever  again  separate  us  from 
Thee.  Amen. 

<Ect  of  Consecration  anti  Reparation  to  tfje  Most  &acreti 
Jgeart  of  3tsns 

Together  with  Prayers  for  the  Pope,  the  Church,  etc. 

QOST  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus!  I adore  Thee; 

I offer  to  Thee  all  that  I am  and  all  that  I 
possess;  I consecrate  to  Thee  my  soul  with  all 
its  faculties,  my  body  with  all  its  senses,  my  heart 
with  all  its  affections,  desiring  in  all  things  to 
honor,  love,  and  glorify  Thee;  in  thanksgiving 
for  the  numberless  benefits  that  I have  received 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


395 


from  Thee,  especially  in  the  Holy  Eucharist;  in 
atonement  for  my  own  sins  as  well  as  in  repara- 
tion for  all  the  offences  that  have  been  com- 
mitted against  Thee  in  the  Sacrament  of  Thy  love, 
and,  finally,  in  humble  supplication,  that  I may 
persevere  in  Thy  love  and  Thy  grace  to  the  end 
of  my  life,  and  with  the  angels  and  the  saints 
may  praise  and  bless  Thee  for  all  eternity. 

We  beseech  Thee,  O good  Jesus,  by  Thy  sacred 
Heart,  overflowing  with  sweetness  and  mercy,  to 
bless  our  Holy  Father  the  Pope,  and  our  Holy 
Mother  the  Church;  to  take  under  Thy  special 
protection  this  congregation,  our  homes,  our  coun- 
try, our  rulers,  our  legislators,  our  bishops,  our 
priests,  and  all  Religious  Orders.  We  recom- 
mend to  Thee  all  our  concerns,  our  friends,  rela- 
tives, benefactors,  and  all  those  who  have  asked 
us  to  pray  for  them;  those  who  are  sick  and  those 
who  are  dying,  and  all  who  are  under  any  afflic- 
tion. Cast  an  eye  of  compassion  on  obstinate 
sinners  and  heretics  and  unbelievers. 

Give  eternal  rest  to  the  faithful  departed. 

Bless  in  particular  the  apostolic  labors  of  those 
who  are  engaged  in  giving  missions  and  retreats, 
in  propagating  the  Faith  in  heathen  lands,  in 
spreading  Thy  kingdom  on  earth,  and  in  fostering 
devotion  to  Thy  most  sacred  Heart  and  to  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar.  Amen. 


'Ect  of  Consecration  to  tfje  &acretJ  J^eart  of  3fesus 

Issued  with  the  Encyclical  Letter  of  His  Holiness,  Leo 
XIII,  dated  May  25,  1899,  on  the  consecration  of  mankind 
to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus. 


Q 

altar. 


OST  sweet  Jesus,  Redeemer  of  the  human  race, 
look  down  upon  us,  humbly  prostrate  before  Thy 
We  are  Thine  and  Thine  we  wish  to  be;  but  to 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


396 

be  more  surely  united  with  Thee,  behold  each  one  of 
us  freely  consecrates  himself  to-day  to  Thy  most  sacred 
Heart.  Many  indeed  have  never  known  Thee ; many, 
too,  despising  Thy  precepts,  have  rejected  Thee.  Have 
mercy  on  them  all,  most  merciful  Jesus,  and  draw  them 
to  Thy  sacred  Heart.  Be  Thou  king,  6 Lord,  not  only 
of  the  faithful  who  have  never  forsaken  Thee,  but  also 
of  the  prodigal  children  who  have  abandoned  Thee; 
grant  that  they  may  quickly  return  to  their  Father’s 
house,  lest  they  die  of  wretchedness  and  hunger.  Be 
Thou  king  of  those  who  are  deceived  by  erroneous 
opinions,  or  whom  discord  keeps  aloof,  and  call  them 
back  to  the  harbor  of  truth  and  unity  of  faith,  so  that 
soon  there  may  be  but  one  flock  and  one  shepherd. 
Be  Thou  king  also  of  all  those  who  sit  in  the  ancient 
superstition  of  the  Gentiles,  and  refuse  not  Thou  to 
deliver  them  out  of  darkness  into  the  light  and  kingdom 
of  God.  Grant,  O Lord,  to  Thy  Church  assurance  of 
freedom  and  immunity  from  harm;  give  peace  and 
order  to  all  nations,  and  make  the  earth  resound  from 
pole  to  pole  with  one  cry:  Praise  to  the  divine  Heart 
that  wrought  our  salvation;  to  it  be  glory  and  honor 
for  ever.  Amen. 


Cntiulgnueti  (JHjaplet  of  tfj t &acreti  J§eart  of  3esus 

Consisting  of  Acts  of  Thanksgiving , Contrition,  Love,  and 
Supplication 

V.  GOD,  come  to  my  assistance. 

V7  R.  O Lord,  make  haste  to  help  me. 

V.  Glory  be,  etc. 

R.  As  it  was,  etc. 

I 


QY  MOST  loving  Jesus,  when  I ponder  over  Thy 
most  sacred  Heart,  all  tenderness  and  sweetness 
for  sinners,  then  doth  my  heart  rejoice,  and  I am  filled 
with  hope  of  Thy  kind  welcome.  But  ah  me,  my  sins, 
how  many  and  how  great!  With  Peter  and  with  Mag- 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


397 


dalen  I bewail  and  abhor  them,  because  they  are  an 
offence  to  Thee,  my  sovereign  good.  Oh,  grant  me 
pardon  for  them  all!  I pray  Thy  sacred  Heart  that  I 
may  rather  die  than  offend  Thee  again,  and  may  live 
only  to  love  Thee. 

Our  Father  once,  Glory  be,  etc.,  five  times,  in  honor 
of  the  Sacred  Heart,  then : 

Sweet  Heart  of  my  Jesus, 

Make  me  love  Thee  ever  more  and  more. 


II 

QY  JESUS,  I bless  Thy  most  humble  Heart;  and  I 
give  thanks  unto  Thee,  Who  in  making  it  my 
model  dost  urge  me  with  strong  pleadings  to  imitate 
it,  and  also,  at  the  cost  of  so  many  humiliations,  dost 
vouchsafe  Thyself  to  point  out  and  smooth  for  me  the 
way  to  follow  Thee.  Fool  and  ungrateful  that  I am, 
how  have  I wandered  far  away  from  Thee!  Pardon 
me,  my  Jesus!  Take  away  from  me  all  hateful  pride 
and  ambition,  that  with  lowly  heart  I may  follow  Thee, 
my  Jesus,  amidst  humiliations,  and  so  gain  peace  and 
salvation.  Strengthen  me,  Thou  Who  canst,  and  I 
will  ever  bless  Thy  sacred  Heart. 

Our  Father  once,  Glory  be,  etc.,  five  times.  Sweet 
Heart,  etc. 

HI 

iT\Y  JESUS,  I marvel  at  Thy  most  patient  Heart,  and 
I give  Thee  thanks  for  all  the  wondrous  examples 
of  unwearied  patience  which  Thou  hast  left  us.  It 
grieves  me  that  these  examples  still  have  to  reproach 
me  for  my  excessive  delicacy,  shrinking  from  every 
little  pain.  Pour,  then,  into  my  heart,  O dear  Jesus,  a 
fervent  and  constant  love  of  suffering  and  the  cross  of 
mortification  and  of  penance,  that,  following  Thee  to 
Calvary,  I may  with  Thee  attain  the  joys  of  paradise. 

Our  Father  once,  Glory  be,  etc.,  five  times.  Sweet 
Heart,  etc. 


398 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 
IV 


*T^\EAR  Jesus,  beside  Thy  most  gentle  Heart  I set 
my  own,  and  shudder  to  see  how  unlike  mine  is 
to  Thine.  How  am  I wont  to  fret  and  grieve  when  a 
hint,  a look,  or  a word  thwarts  me!  Pardon  all  my 
violence,  and  give  me  for  the  future  grace  to  imitate  in 
every  contradiction  Thy  unalterable  meekness,  that  so 
I may  enjoy  an  everlasting  holy  peace. 

Our  Father  once,  Glory  be,  etc.,  five  times.  Sweet 
Heart,  etc. 

V 


' ET  us  sing  praise  to  Jesus  for  His  generous  Heart, 
.i  conqueror  of  death  and  hell;  for  well  it  merits 
every  praise.  Still  more  than  ever  confounded  am  I, 
looking  upon  my  coward  heart,  which  dreads  even  a 
rough  word  or  injurious  taunt.  But  it  shall  be  so  with 
me  no  more.  My  Jesus,  I pray  Thee  for  such  strength 
that,  fighting  and  conquering  self  on  earth,  I may  one 
day  rejoice  triumphantly  with  Thee  in  heaven. 

Our  Father  once,  Glory  be,  etc.,  five  times.  Sweet 
Heart,  etc. 

Now  let  us  turn  to  Mary,  and,  dedicating  ourselves 
yet  more  and  more  to  her,  and  trusting  in  her  Mother’s 
heart,  we  say  to  her:  By  all  the  virtue  of  thy  most  sweet 
heart  obtain  for  me,  great  Mother  of  God,  our  Mother 
Mary,  a true  and  enduring  devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart 
of  Jesus,  Thy  Son,  that,  bound  up  in  every  thought  and 
affection  in  union  with  His  Heart,  I may  fulfil  each  duty 
of  my  state,  serving  Jesus  evermore  with  readiness  of 
heart,  and  specially  this  day. 

V.  Heart  of  Jesus,  burning  with  love  of  us. 

R.  Inflame  our  hearts  with  love  of  Thee. 


Let  us  pray 

'"1 — ' ORD,  we  beseech  Thee,  let  Thy  Holy  Spirit  kindle 
, I 1 in  our  hearts  that  fire  of  charity  which  Our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  Thy  Son,  sent  forth  from  His  inmost 
Heart  upon  this  earth,  and  willed  that  it  should  burn 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


399 

exceedingly.  Who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  Thee,  in 
the  unity  of  the  same  Holy  Spirit,  God,  for  ever  and 
ever.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  Plenary  indulgence, 
once  a month.  — Pius  VII,  March  20,  1815. 


draper  tit  Jgoitor  of  tfje  &acre&  bufferings  of  ®ur  bairiour 

OG0D,  Who  to  redeem  the  world  didst  vouchsafe  to 
be  born  amongst  men,  to  be  circumcised,  rejected 
by  the  Jews,  betrayed  by  the  traitor  Judas  with  a kiss, 
to  be  bound  with  cords,  and  as  an  innocent  lamb  to  be 
led  to  the  slaughter;  Who  didst  suffer  Thyself  to  be 
shamelessly  exposed  to  the  gaze  of  Annas,  Caiphas, 
Pilate,  and  Herod;  to  be  accused  by  false  witnesses, 
tormented  by  scourges  and  insults,  crowned  with  thorns, 
smitten  with  blows,  defiled  with  spittings ; to  have  Thy 
divine  countenance  covered,  to  be  struck  with  a reed, 
to  be  stripped  of  Thy  clothes,  nailed  to  and  raised  high 
upon  a cross  between  two  thieves,  to  be  given  gall  and 
vinegar  to  drink,  and  then  pierced  with  a lance;  do 
Thou,  O Lord,  by  these  most  sacred  sufferings,  which 
I,  unworthy  as  I am,  yet  dare  to  contemplate,  by  Thy 
holy  cross  and  by  Thy  bitter  death  free  me  from  the 
pains  of  hell,  and  vouchsafe  to  bring  me  to  paradise, 
whither  Thou  didst  lead  the  thief  who  was  crucified 
with  Thee,  my  Jesus,  Who,  with  the  Father  and  the 
Holy  Ghost,  livest  and  reignest,  God,  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  and  Glory  be,  etc.,  five  times. 
Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  VII,  Aug.  25, 
1820. 


draper;  “JBtbtne  Jesus,1 ” for  a Jijolg  JBeatfj 

*T^\IVINE  Jesus,  incarnate  Son  of  God,  Who  for  our 
r-LJ  salvation  didst  vouchsafe  to  be  born  in  a stable, 
to  pass  Thy  life  in  poverty,  trials,  and  misery,  and  to  die 
amid  the  sufferings  of  the  cross,  I entreat  Thee,  say  to 
Thy  divine  Father  at  the  hour  of  my  death:  “ Father , 
forgive  him  say  to  Thy  beloved  mother:  “ Behold 


400 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


thy  son  say  to  my  soul:  “ This  day  thou  shalt  he 
with  Me  in  paradise .”  My  God,  my  God,  forsake  me 
not  in  that  hour.  “ I thirst  yes,  my  God,  my  soul 
thirsts  after  Thee,  Who  art  the  fountain  of  living 
waters.  My  life  passes  like  a shadow;  yet  a little 
while,  and  all  will  be  consummated.  Wherefore,  O my 
adorable  Saviour,  from  this  moment,  for  all  eternity, 
“ into  Thy  hands , I commend  my  spirit .”  Lord  Jesus, 
receive  my  soul.  Amen. 

300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  June  10,  1856. 


SEjaculatorp  draper  to  ®ur  ILorti 

O JESUS  CHRIST,  Son  of  the  living  God,  light  of 
the  world,  I adore  Thee,  for  Thee  I live,  for  Thee 
I die.  Amen. 

100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  X,  July  1,  1909. 


BIAT,  laudetur,  atque 
in  aeternum  super- 
exaltetur  justissima,  altis- 
sima,  et  amabilissima  vo- 
luntas Dei  in  omnibus. 


Ejaculations  of  designation  to  tljc  OTiU  of  0o5 

(T)AY  the  most  just, 
N"/  most  high,  and  most 
adorable  will  of  God  be  in 
all  things  done,  praised, 
and  magnified  for  ever. 

Indulgences:  i.  100  days,  once  a day.  ii.  Plenary,  once 
a year,  to  all  who  say  it  daily,  on  the  usual  conditions, 
iii.  Plenary,  in  articulo  mortis  (at  the  point  of  death),  to 
those  who,  during  life,  shall  have  frequently  recited  this 
ejaculation,  provided  that,  worthily  disposed,  they  accept 
death  with  resignation  from  the  hands  of  God.  — Pius  VII, 
May  19,  1818. 

llragtr 


J7ESUS,  my  Master,  I am  not  my  own.  I have  been 
J bought  at  a great  price  by  You.  I desire  not  hence- 
forth to  live  to  myself,  but  to  You  Who  died  for  me. 
My  life  and  my  actions  I dedicate  to  You,  and  what- 
ever I do  in  word  or  work,  I sincerely  desire  and  firmly 
resolve  to  do  all  in  Your  name.  My  Jesus!  this  is  all 
I can  say.  Do  You  in  Your  mercy  give  me  strength 
and  wisdom  to  accomplish  what  I have  resolved  in  Your 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


401 


presence  this  day.  Jesus,  my  God!  You  have  told 
me  in  Your  unerring  word  to  cast  all  my  care  upon 
You,  because  You  have  care  of  me!  I do  so.  I cast 
all  my  sorrows,  my  solicitudes,  and  my  uneasiness 
upon  You.  On  my  part , I will  employ  myself  in  promot- 
ing Your  honor  and  glory,  by  doing  everything  in  Your 
name.  I know  that  on  Yours ? You  will  take  into  Your 
hands  all  that  concerns  me.  I will  attend  to  You; 
You  will  take  care  of  me.  Divine  Jesus!  Sweet  Sa- 
viour of  my  soul,  let  this  contract  be  inviolable  and 
eternal  between  us  — “I  to  my  beloved,  and  my  be- 
loved to  me.”  Amen. 

— Rev.  Robert  HALY,  S. J.,  in  A Gleaner's  Sheaf. 


Stager  to  Jksus  for  a J^olg  3Ltfe  anti  a S^appg  Bratl) 
In  f^cmor  of  tijr  ^olg  jfamtlg 

RANT  us,  Lord  Jesus,  always  to  follow  the  ex- 
ample  of  Thy  holy  family,  that  at  the  hour  of  our 
death  Thy  glorious  Virgin  Mother  with  blessed  Joseph 
may  come  to  meet  us,  and  so  we  may  deserve  to  be 
received  by  Thee  into  Thy  everlasting  dwelling-place. 

200  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  25,  1897. 


acts  of  &tJoratton  anti  Separation  to  Resits  in  t fje  SSIrssrti 
Sacrament 

I 

I ADORE  Thee,  my  Jesus,  in  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment; I acknowledge  Thee,  true  God  and  true 
man.  By  this  my  act  of  adoration  I intend  to  make 
Thee  reparation  for  the  coldness  of  so  many  of  Thy 
people,  who  pass  before  Thy  churches,  nay,  before  Thy 
very  tabernacle,  where  hour  after  hour  Thou  dost  deign 
to  dwell  in  loving  impatience  to  communicate  Thyself 
to  Thy  faithful,  yet  do  not  even  bow  the  knee  before 
Thee,  but,  like  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness,  seem  by 
their  indifference  to  loathe  this  heavenly  manna.  I 
offer  Thee  Thine  own  most  precious  blood  which  Thou 
didst  shed  from  the  wound  in  Thy  left  foot,  in  repara- 


402 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


tion  for  this  hateful  coldness,  and,  entering  therein,  I 
cry,  and  will  never  cease  to  cry : 

Blessed  and  praised  every  moment 
Be  the  most  holy  and  divine  Sacrament! 
or, 

O Sacrament  most  holy!  O Sacrament  divine! 

All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  moment 
Thine. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 

II 

I PROFOUNDLY  adore  Thee,  my  Jesus;  I acknowl- 
edge Thee  present  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament. 
By  this  act  of  adoration  I would  fain  make  amends  for 
the  forgetfulness  of  so  many  Christian  people,  who, 
when  they  see  Thee  go  to  the  poor  sick,  to  be  their 
strength  in  their  great  journey  to  eternity,  leave  Thee 
unescorted,  and  hardly  give  Thee  even  one  outward 
sign  of  homage.  I offer  Thee,  in  reparation  for  this 
coldness,  that  most  precious  blood  which  Thou  didst 
shed  from  the  wound  in  Thy  right  foot,  and,  entering 
therein,  I cry,  and  will  never  cease  to  cry: 

Blessed  and  praised  every  moment 
Be  the  most  holy  and  divine  Sacrament! 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 

Ill 

I PROFOUNDLY  adore  Thee,  my  Jesus,  true  Bread 
of  life  eternal;  and  by  this  my  act  of  adoration  I 
would  fain  make  Thee  compensation  for  all  the  wounds 
with  which  Thy  sacred  Heart  bleeds  daily  to  see  the 
profanation  of  those  churches  wherein  Thou  dost  vouch- 
safe to  abide,  beneath  the  sacramental  species,  to 
receive  the  love  and  adoration  of  Thy  people.  I offer 
Thee,  in  reparation  for  all  these  irreverences,  that 
most  precious  blood  which  Thou  didst  shed  from  the 
wound  in  Thy  left  hand,  and,  entering  therein,  I will 
ever  cry: 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


403 


Blessed  and  praised  every  moment 
Be  the  most  holy  and  divine  Sacrament! 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 

IV 

I PROFOUNDLY  adore  Thee,  my  Jesus,  Living 
Bread  come  down  from  heaven;  and  by  this  act 
of  adoration  I would  fain  make  amends  for  ail  the  acts 
of  irreverence  which  Thy  people  day  by  day  commit 
whilst  they  assist  at  holy  Mass,  in  which  bloodless 
sacrifice  Thou  dost  renew  the  very  sacrifice  which  once 
Thou  didst  consummate  on  Calvary  for  our  salvation. 
I offer  Thee,  in  reparation  for  all  this  ingratitude,  that 
most  precious  blood  which  Thou  didst  shed  from  the 
wound  in  Thy  right  hand ; and,  entering  therein,  I unite 
my  voice  with  the  voices  of  the  holy  angels  who  adore 
around  Thy  throne: 

Blessed  and  praised  every  moment 
Be  the  most  holy  and  divine  Sacrament! 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father 
V 

I PROFOUNDLY  adore  Thee,  my  Jesus,  true  Vic- 
tim of  expiation  for  our  sins ; and  I offer  Thee  this 
act  of  adoration  in  compensation  for  the  sacrilegious 
outrages  Thou  dost  receive  from  so  many  of  Thy  un- 
grateful people,  who  dare  to  draw  nigh  to  Thee  and 
receive  Thee  in  communion  with  mortal  sin  upon  their 
souls.  In  reparation  for  these  hateful  sacrileges,  I offer 
Thee  those  last  drops  of  Thy  most  precious  blood  which 
Thou  didst  shed  from  the  wound  in  Thy  side;  and, 
entering  therein,  I approach  Thee  with  acts  of  adora- 
tion, love,  and  thanksgiving,  and,  with  all  holy  souls  who 
are  devout  to  Thee  in  this  most  holy  Sacrament,  I cry: 
Blessed  and  praised  every  moment 
Be  the  most  holy  and  divine  Sacrament ! 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 
Tantum  ergo  with  Versicle  and  Prayer.  ( See  p.  499.) 
300  daT's,  each  time.  — Pbis  TrTT.  Aupust  26,  1814, 


404 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 
&z)ozn  Offerings  of  tfje  Precious  BlooiJ 
I 

TERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  merits  of  the 
„ precious  blood  of  Jesus,  Thy  well-beloved  Son, 
my  Saviour  and  my  God,  for  my  dear  Mother,  Thy  holy 
Church;  that  she  may  enlarge  her  borders,  and  be 
magnified  in  all  the  nations  of  the  earth ; for  the  safety 
and  well-being  of  her  visible  head,  our  chief  pastor,  the 
Bishop  of  Rome ; for  the  cardinals,  bishops,  and  pastors 
of  souls,  and  for  all  the  ministers  of  the  sanctuary. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost,  as  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and 
ever  shall  be,  world  without  end.  Amen. 

Blessed  and  praised  forevermore  be  Jesus,  Who 
hath  saved  us  with  His  blood. 


II 

TERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  merits  of  the 
precious  blood  of  Jesus,  Thy  well-beloved  Son, 
my  Saviour  and  my  God,  for  the  peace  and  concord  of 
Catholic  kings  and  princes,  for  the  humiliation  of  the 
enemies  of  our  holy  Faith,  and  for  the  welfare  of  all 
Christian  people. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Soil,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost,  as  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and 
ever  shall  be,  world  without  end.  Amen. 

Blessed  and  praised,  etc. 

III 

/^f TERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  merits  of  the 
precious  blood  of  Jesus,  Thy  well-beloved  Son, 
my  Saviour  and  my  God,  for  the  repentance  of  unbe- 
lievers, the  uprooting  of  heresy,  and  the  conversion  of 
sinners. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost,  as  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and 
ever  shall  be,  world  without  end.  Amen. 

Blessed  and  praised,  etc. 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 
IV 


405 


y^fTERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  merits  of  the 
M precious  blood  of  Jesus,  Thy  well-beloved  Son, 
my  Saviour  and  my  God,  for  all  my  relations,  friends, 
and  enemies ; for  the  poor,  the  sick,  and  the  afflicted, 
and  for  all  those  for  whom  Thou,  my  God,  knowest 
that  I ought  to  pray,  or  wouldst  have  me  pray. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  etc. 

Blessed  and  praised,  etc. 


/^fTERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  merits  of  the 
precious  blood  of  Jesus,  Thy  well-beloved  Son, 
my  Saviour  and  my  God,  for  all  who  this  day  are  pass- 
ing to  the  other  life ; that  Thou  wouldst  save  them  from 
the  pains  of  hell,  and  admit  them  quickly  to  the  posses- 
sion of  Thy  glory. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  etc. 

Blessed  and  praised,  etc. 

VI 

y^STERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  merits  of  the 
v4  precious  blood  of  Jesus,  Thy  well-beloved  Son, 
my*  Saviour  and  my  God,  for  all  those  who  love  this 
great  treasure,  for  those  who  join  with  me  in  adoring 
it  and  honoring  it,  and  for  those  who  strive  to  spread 
devotion  to  it. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  etc. 

Blessed  and  praised,  etc. 

VII 

/^STERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  merits  of  the 
V4  precious  blood  of  Jesus,  Thy  well-beloved  Son, 
my  Saviour  and  my  God,  for  all  my  wants,  spiritual 
and  temporal;  in  suffrage  for  the  holy  souls  in  purga- 
tory, and  chiefly  for  those  who  were  most  devout  lovers 
of  this  blood,  the  price  of  our  redemption,  and  of  the 
sorrows  and  pains  of  our  dear  Mother,  most  holy  Mary. 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


406 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  etc. 

Blessed  and  praised,  etc. 

Glory  be  to  the  Blood  of  Jesus,  now  and  for  ever, 
and  throughout  all  ages!  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VII,  Sept.  22, 
1817. 


met  of  0blatton  in  GTljanksgtbtng  for.  Blessings  Beceibctr 

/^fTERNAL  Father,  we  offer  Thee  the  most  precious 
blood  of  Jesus,  shed  for  us  with  such  great  love 
and  bitter  pain  from  His  right  hand ; and,  through  the 
merits  and  the  efficacy  of  that  blood,  we  entreat  Thy 
Divine  Majesty  to  grant  us  Thy  holy  benediction,  in 
order  that  we  may  be  defended  thereby  from  all  our 
enemies,  and  be  set  free  from  every  ill;  whilst  we  say, 
May  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  descend  upon  us  and  remain  with  us  for 
ever.  Amen. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Glory  be  to  the  Father. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Leo  XII,  October 
25,  1823. 

®ffmng  of  tf }£  -precious  Bloob 

6TERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  precious  blood 
of  Jesus  Christ  in  satisfaction  for  my  sins,  and 
for  the  wants  of  Holy  Church. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VII,  September 
22,  1817. 

Prager  to  Jesus  Ucab 


O JESUS,  Who  in  Thy  bitter  passion  didst  become 
the  reproach  of  men  and  the  man  of  sorrows,  I 
venerate  Thy  sacred  face,  on  which  shone  the  grace 
and  sweetness  of  the  Divinity,  now  for  my  sake  changed 
into  the  likeness  of  a leper.  But  under  this  deformity 
I perceive  Thy  infinite  love,  and  I am  overwhelmed 
with  the  desire  of  loving  Thee  and  making  Thee  beloved 
by  all  men.  The  tears  which  stream  from  Thy  eyes 
seem  as  precious  pearls,  which  I love  to  gather  up,  in 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  407 

order  to  purchase  with  their  infinite  value  the  souls  of 
poor  sinners. 

O Jesus,  Thy  face  is  the  only  beauty  which  ravishes 
my  heart.  I am  content  not  to  see  here  below  the 
sweetness  of  Thy  look,  not  to  feel  the  ineffable  delight 
of  a kiss  of  Thy  mouth;  but  oh,  I beseech  Thee,  print 
on  me  Thy  divine  likeness,  and  inflame  me  with  Thy 
love,  so  that  it  may  rapidly  consume  me,  and  I may 
soon  come  to  see  Thy  glorious  face  in  heaven.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Feb.  16, 
1906. 


^rager  in  pjonar  of  tije  J^olg  Name  of  iesus 

OGOOD  Jesus!  O most  tender  Jesus!  O most 
sweet  Jesus!  O Jesus,  Son  of  Mary  the  Virgin, 
full  of  mercy  and  kindness!  O sweet  Jesus,  according 
to  Thy  great  mercy,  have  pity  on  me!  O most  merciful 
Jesus,  I entreat  Thee  by  that  precious  blood  of  Thine 
which  Thou  didst  will  to  pour  forth  for  sinners,  to  wash 
away  all  my  iniquities,  and  to  look  upon  me,  poor  and 
unworthy  as  I am,  asking  humbly  pardon  of  Thee,  and 
invoking  this  holy  name  of  Jesus.  O name  of  Jesus, 
sweet  name!  Name  of  Jesus,  name  of  joy!  Name  of 
Jesus,  name  of  strength!  Nay,  what  meaneth  the  name 
of  Jesus  but  Saviour?  Wherefore,  O Jesus,  by  Thine 
own  holy  name,  be  to  me  Jesus,  and  save  me.  Suffer 
me  not  to  be  lost  — me,  whom  Thou  didst  create  out 
of  nothing.  O good  Jesus,  let  not  my  iniquity  destroy 
what  Thy  almighty  goodness  made.  O sweet  Jesus, 
recognize  what  is  Thine  own,  and  wipe  away  from  me 
what  is  not  of  Thee!  O most  kind  Jesus,  have  pity  on 
me  while  it  is  the  time  of  pity,  and  condemn  me  not 
when  it  is  the  time  of  judgment.  The  dead  shall  not 
praise  Thee,  Lord  Jesus,  nor  all  those  who  go  down  into 
hell.  O most  loving  Jesus!  O Jesus  most  longed  for 
by  Thine  own!  O most  gentle  Jesus!  Jesus,  Jesus, 
Jesus,  let  me  enter  into  the  number  of  Thine  elect. 
O Jesus,  salvation  of  those  who  believe  in  Thee ; Jesus, 
consolation  of  those  who  fly  to  Thee!  Jesus,  Son  of 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


408 

Mary  the  Virgin,  pour  into  me  grace,  wisdom,  charity, 
chastity,  and  humility,  that  I may  be  able  perfectly  to 
love  Thee,  to  praise  Thee,  to  enjoy  Thee,  to  serve 
Thee,  and  to  glory  in  Thee,  together  with  all  those  who 
invoke  Thy  name,  which  is  Jesus.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Nov.  26, 
1876. 


draper  to  3csus  ®ur  Rcticnncr : &ct  of  Reparation  for 

Blasphemies  ^Ettereti  Against  the  J§olg  Name 

O JESUS,  Son  of  the  living  God,  my  Saviour 
and  Redeemer,  behold  us  prostrate  at  Thy 
feet.  We  beg  pardon,  and  make  this  act  of  repa- 
ration for  ail  the  blasphemies  uttered  against  Thy 
holy  Name,  for  all  the  outrages  committed  against 
Thee  in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar, 
for  all  irreverence  shown  to  Thy  most  blessed 
and  immaculate  Mother,  and  for  all  the  calumnies 
spoken  against  Thy  spouse,  our  holy  Mother,  the 
Catholic  Church.  O Jesus,  Who  didst  say:  What- 
ever you  shall  ask  the  Father  in  My  Name , that  I 
will  doy  we  pray  and  beseech  Thee  for  our  breth- 
ren who  are  living  in  danger  of  sin,  that  Thou 
wouldst  preserve  them  from  the  seductions  of 
apostasy.  Save  them  who  stand  over  the  abyss; 
give  them  light  and  knowledge  of  the  truth,  power, 
and  strength  in  the  conflict  against  evil,  and  per- 
severance in  faith  and  active  charity.  And  there- 
fore, most  merciful  Jesus,  do  we  pray  to  the 
Father  in  Thy  name,  with  Whom  Thou  livest  and 
reignest  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  world 
without  end.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII, 
May  13,  1903. 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


409 


Enbocattotts 

rjESUS!  Mary! 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Oct. 

10,  1904. 

Saviour  of  the  world,  have  mercy  on  us. 
Indulgence  of  50  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII, 
Feb.  21,  1891. 

My  Jesus,  mercy! 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Sept. 
24,  1846. 

My  sweetest  Jesus,  be  not  my  Judge,  but  my 
Saviour. 

Indulgence  of  50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Aug. 

11,  1851. 

Jesus,  my  God,  I love  Thee  above  all  things. 
Indulgence  of  50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  May  7, 
1854. 

Jesus,  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me! 
(Luke  iii.  38.) 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII, 
Feb.  27,  1886. 


iPrager  of  &t.  (£lar t of  Assisi  to  tl je  JFtbe  CTlountis  of 
®ur  <SaiJtour 

I.  To  the  Wound  in  the  Right  Hand 

^T^RAISE  be  to  Thee,  O Jesus  Christ,  for  the  most 
fL  . sacred  wound  in  Thy  right  hand.  By  this  ador- 
able wound,  and  by  Thy  most  sacred  passion,  pardon 
me  all  the  sins  I have  committed  against  Thee  in 
thought,  word,  and  deed,  and  all  negligence  in  Thy 
service,  and  all  sensuality  for  which  I have  been  to 
blame  whether  asleep  or  awake.  Grant  that  I may  be 
able  to  recall  with  devotion  Thy  most  pitiful  death  and 


4io 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


sacred  wounds;  grant  me  the  grace  to  mortify  my  body, 
and  so  to  offer  a pledge  of  my  gratitude  to  Thee,  Who 
livest  and  reignest  world  without  end.  Amen. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary. 

II.  To  the  Wound  in  the  Left  Hand 

RAISE  and  glory  be  to  Thee,  O sweetest  Jesus 
JL_  Christ,  for  the  most  sacred  wound  in  Thy  left 
hand.  By  this  adorable  wound,  have  mercy  on  me, 
and  deign  to  root  out  of  my  heart  everything  displeas- 
ing to  Thee.  Give  me  the  victory  over  Thy  perverse 
enemies,  so  that  with  Thy  grace  I may  be  able  to  over- 
come them ; and  by  the  merits  of  Thy  most  pitiful  death 
save  me  from  all  the  dangers  of  my  present  and  future 
life;  and  then  grant  that  I may  share  Thy  glory  in 
heaven,  Who  livest  and  reignest  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary. 

III.  To  the  Wound  in  the  Right  Foot 
^t^RAISE  and  glory  be  to  Thee,  O sweet  Jesus  Christ, 
.1  for  the  most  sacred  wound  in  Thy  right  foot; 
and  by  that  adorable  wound  grant  me  grace  to  do 
penance  for  my  sins.  And  by  Thy  most  pitiful  death 
I devoutly  beg  of  Thee  to  keep  me,  Thy  poor  servant, 
united,  night  and  day,  to  Thy  holy  will,  and  to  remove 
afar  off  every  misfortune  of  body  and  soul.  And  when 
the  day  of  wrath  shall  come,  receive  me  into  Thy 
mercy,  and  lead  me  to  eternal  happiness.  Who  livest 
and  reignest  world  without  end.  Amen. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary. 

IV.  To  the  Wound  in  the  Left  Foot 

'T^RAISE  and  glory  be  to  Thee,  most  merciful  Jesus 
, JL-  Christ,  for  the  most  sacred  wound  in  Thy  left 
foot;  and  by  this  adorable  wound  grant  me  the  grace 
of  a full  pardon,  that  with  Thine  aid  I may  deserve  to 
escape  the  sentence  of  eternal  reprobation.  I pray 
Thee,  moreover,  by  Thy  most  holy  death,  O my  loving 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


41  r 

Redeemer,  that  I may  be  able  before  my  death  to 
receive  the  sacrament  of  Thy  body  and  blood,  after 
confession  of  my  sins,  and  with  perfect  repentance  and 
purity  of  body  and  mind.  Grant  that  I may  merit  also 
to  receive  the  holy  anointing,  for  my  eternal  salvation, 
O Lord,  Who  livest  and  reignest  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary. 


V.  To  the  Wound  in  the  Sacred  Side 

'T^JRAISE  and  glory  be  to  Thee,  most  loving  Jesus 
Christ,  for  the  most  sacred  wound  in  Thy  side, 
and  by  that  adorable  wound,  and  by  Thy  infinite  mercy, 
which  Thou  didst  make  known  in  the  opening  of  Thy 
breast  to  the  soldier  Longinus,  and  so  to  us  all,  I pray 
Thee,  O most  gentle  Jesus,  that,  having  redeemed  me 
by  baptism  from  original  sin,  so  now  by  Thy  precious 
blood,  which  is  offered  and  received  throughout  the 
world,  deliver  me  from  all  evils,  past,  present,  and  to 
come.  And  by  Thy  most  bitter  death  give  me  a lively 
faith,  a firm  hope,  and  a perfect  charity,  so  that  I may 
love  Thee  with  all  my  heart,  and  all  my  soul1,  and  all 
my  strength;  make  me  firm  and  steadfast  in  good 
works,  and  grant  me  perseverance  in  Thy  service,  so 
that  I may  be  able  to  please  Thee  always.  Amen. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary. 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  we  bless  Thee. 

R.  Because  by  Thy  death  and  blood  Thou  hast  re- 
deemed the  world. 

Let  us  pray 

VTT'LMIGHTY  and  everlasting  God,  Who,  by  the 
five  wounds  of  Thy  Son,  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
hast  redeemed  the  human  race,  grant  to  Thy  suppliants 
that  we  who  daily  venerate  those  wounds,  may,  by  the 
shedding  of  His  precious  blood,  be  freed  from  sudden 
and  everlasting  death.  Through  the  same  Christ  Our 
Lord.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Novem- 
ber 21,  1885. 


412 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


^ragers  for  tfje  (JTljurdj  anti  for  tfje  <2Ttbtl  ‘Eutljortties 

( Composed  by  Archbishop  Carroll) 

iCX E Thee,  O almighty  and  eternal  God, 

VXA,  Who  through  Jesus  Christ  hast  revealed 
Thy  glory  to  all  nations,  to  preserve  the  works  of 
Thy  mercy,  that  Thy  Church,  being  spread 
through  the  whole  world,  may  continue  with  un- 
changing faith  in  the  confession  of  Thy  name. 

We  pray  Thee,  Who  alone  art  good  and  holy, 
to  endow  with  heavenly  knowledge,  sincere  zeal, 
and  sanctity  of  life,  our  chief  bishop,  N.  N.,  the 
vicar  of  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  government 
of  His  Church;  our  own  bishop  (or  archbishop), 
N.  N. ; all  other  bishops,  prelates,  and  pastors  of 
the  Church;  and  especially  those  who  are  ap- 
pointed to  exercise  amongst  us  the  functions  of  the 
holy  ministry,  and  conduct  Thy  people  into  the 
ways  of  salvation. 

We  pray  Thee,  O God  of  might,  wisdom,  and 
justice,  through  Whom  authority  is  rightly  ad- 
ministered, laws  are  enacted,  and  judgment  de- 
creed, assist  with  Thy  holy  spirit  of  counsel  and 
fortitude  the  President  of  the  United  States,  that 
his  administration  may  be  conducted  in  righteous- 
ness, and  be  eminently  useful  to  Thy  people  over 
whom  he  presides;  by  encouraging  due  respect 
for  virtue  and  religion;  by  a faithful  execution  of 
the  laws  in  justice  and  mercy;  and  by  restraining 
vice  and  immorality.  Let  the  light  of  Thy  divine 
wisdom  direct  the  deliberations  of  Congress,  and 
shine  forth  in  all  the  proceedings  and  laws  framed 
for  our  rule  and  government,  so  that  they  may 
tend  to  the  preservation  of  peace,  the  promotion 
of  national  happiness,  the  increase  of  industry, 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  413 

sobriety,  and  useful  knowledge;  and  may  per- 
petuate to  us  the  blessing  of  equal  liberty. 

We  pray  for  his  excellency,  the  Governor  of 
this  State,  for  the  members  of  the  Assembly,  for 
all  judges,  magistrates,  and  other  officers  who 
are  appointed  to  guard  our  political  welfare,  that 
they  may  be  enabled,  by  Thy  powerful  protection, 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  their  respective  stations 
with- honesty  and  ability. 

We  recommend,  likewise,  to  Thy  unbounded 
mercy,  all  our  brethren  and  fellow-citizens 
throughout  the  United  States,  that  they  may  be 
blessed  in  the  knowledge  and  sanctified  in  the 
observance  of  Thy  most  holy  law;  that  they  may 
be  preserved  in  union,  and  in  that  peace  which 
the  world  can  not  give;  and,  after  enjoying  the 
blessings  of  this  life,  be  admitted  to  those  which 
are  eternal. 

Finally,  we  pray  to  Thee,  O Lord  of  mercy,  to 
remember  the  souls  of  Thy  servants  departed  who 
are  gone  before  us  with  the  sign  of  faith,  and  re- 
pose in  the  sleep  of  peace;  the  souls  of  our 
parents,  relatives,  and  friends;  of  those  who, 
when  living,  were  members  of  this  congregation, 
and  particularly  of  such  as  are  lately  deceased; 
of  all  benefactors  who,  by  their  donations  or 
legacies  to  this  church,  witnessed  their  zeal  foi 
the  decency  of  divine  worship  and  proved  their 
claim  to  our  grateful  and  charitable  remembrance. 
To  these,  O Lord,  and  to  all  that  rest  in  Christ, 
grant,  we  beseech  Thee,  a place  of  refreshment, 
light,  and  everlasting  peace,  through  the  same 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord  and  Saviour.  Amen. 


414 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


E iPrager  for  'EU  things  dfkcessarg  to  .Saltation1 
(< Composed  by  Pope  Clement  XIy  1721) 
f~\  MY  GOD,  I believe  in  Thee;  do  Thou 
strengthen  my  faith.  All  my  hopes  are  in 
Thee;  do  Thou  secure  them.  I love  Thee;  teach 
me  to  love  Thee  daily  more  and  more.  I am  sorry 
that  I have  offended  Thee;  do  Thou  increase  my 
sorrow. 

I adore  Thee  as  my  first  beginning:  I aspire 
after  Thee  as  my  last  end.  I give  Thee  thanks 
as  my  constant  benefactor;  I call  upon  Thee  as 
my  sovereign  protector. 

Vouchsafe,  O my  God,  to  conduct  me  by  Thy 
wisdom,  to  restrain  me  by  Thy  justice;  to  com- 
fort me  by  Thy  mercy,  to  defend  me  by  Thy 
power.  , 

To  Thee  I desire  to  consecrate  all  my  thoughts, 
words,  actions,  and  sufferings;  that  henceforward 
I may  think  of  Thee,  speak  of  Thee,  refer  all  my 
actions  to  Thy  greater  glory,  and  suffer  willingly 
whatever  Thou  shalt  appoint. 

Lord,  I desire  that  in  all  things  Thy  will  may 
be  done  because  it  is  Thy  will,  and  in  the  manner 
that  Thou  wiliest. 

I beg  of  Thee  to  enlighten  my  understanding, 
to  inflame  my  will,  to  purify  my  body,  and  to  sanc- 
tify my  soul. 

Give  me  strength,  O my  God,  to  expiate  my 
offences,  to  overcome  my  temptations,  to  subdue 
my  passions,  and  to  acquire  the  virtues  proper  for 
my  state  of  life. 

Fill  my  heart  with  tender  affection  for  Thy  good- 
ness, hatred  of  my  faults,  love  of  my  neighbor,  and 
contempt  of  the  world. 

1 A Universal  Prayer 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


4i5 


May  Thy  grace  help  me  to  be  submissive  to  my 
superiors,  condescending  to  my  inferiors,  faithful 
to  my  friends,  and  charitable  to  my  enemies. 

Assist  me  to  overcome  sensuality  by  mortifica- 
tion, avarice  by  almsdeeds,  anger  by  meekness, 
and  tepidity  by  devotion. 

O my  God,  make  me  prudent  in  my  under- 
takings, courageous  in  dangers,  patient  in  afflic- 
tion, and  humble  in  prosperity. 

Grant  that  I may  be  ever  attentive  at  my 
prayers,  temperate  at  my  meals,  diligent  in  my 
employments,  and  constant  in  my  resolutions. 

Let  my  conscience  be  ever  upright  and  pure, 
my  exterior  modest,  my  conversation  edifying, 
and  my  comportment  regular. 

Assist  me,  that  I may  continually  labor  to  over- 
come nature,  to  correspond  with  Thy  grace,  to 
keep  Thy  commandments,  and  to  work  out  my 
salvation. 

Make  me  realize,  O my  God,  the  nothingness 
of  this  world,  the  greatness  of  heaven,  the  short- 
ness of  time,  and  the  length  of  eternity! 

Grant  that  I may  prepare  for  death;  that  I may 
fear  Thy  judgments  and  in  the  end  obtain  heaven; 
through  Jesus  Christ,  Our  Lord.  Amen. 

IPragcrs  tit  Commemoration  of  tfye  passion  of  ®ur  ILorti 
for  tfje  Poor  &ouls  tn  Purgatorg 

/X\Y  JESUS,  by  that  copious  sweat  of  blood 
with  which  Thou  didst  bedew  the  ground 
in  the  Garden,  have  mercy  on  the  souls  of  my 
nearest  relations  who  are  suffering  in  purgatory. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Eternal  rest  give  unto 
them,  O Lord : And  let  perpetual  light  shine  upon 
them.  May  they  rest  in  peace.  Amen. 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


416 

/T)Y  JESUS,  by  that  cruel  scourging  which 
M/  Thou  didst  suffer,  bound  to  the  column, 
have  pity  on  the  souls  of  my  other  relatives  and 
friends  who  are  suffering  in  purgatory. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Eternal  rest,  etc. 

/T\Y  JESUS,  by  that  crown  of  sharpest  thorns 
which  pierced  Thy  sacred  temples,  have 
mercy  on  that  soul  which  is  most  neglected  and 
least  prayed  for,  and  on  that  soul  which  is  furthest 
from  being  released  from  the  pains  of  purgatory. 
Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Eternal  rest,  etc. 


/T)Y  JESUS,  by  those  sorrowful  steps  which 
Thou  didst  take  with  the  cross  on  Thy 
shoulders,  have  mercy  on  that  soul  which  is 
nearest  to  its  departure  from  purgatory;  and  by 
the  pains  which  Thou  didst  suffer  together  with 
Thy  most  holy  Mother  Mary  when  Thou  didst 
meet  her  on  the  road  to  Calvary,  deliver  from  the 
pains  of  purgatory  those  souls  who  were  devout 
to  this  beloved  Mother. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Eternal  rest,  etc. 

/T\Y  JESUS,  by  Thy  most  holy  body  stretched 
on  the  cross,  by  Thy  most  holy  hands  and 
feet  pierced  with  hard  nails,  by  Thy  most  cruel 
death,  and  by  Thy  most  holy  side  laid  open  with 
a lance,  have  pity  and  mercy  on  those  poor  souls ; 
free  them  from  the  awful  pains  they  suffer,  call 
and  admit  them  to  Thy  most  sweet  embrace  in 
paradise. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary,  Eternal  rest,  etc. 


f \ HOLY  souls,  tormented  in  most  cruel  pains, 
as  one  truly  devoted  to  you  I promise  never 
to  forget  you,  and  continually  to  pray  to  the  Most 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  417 

High  for  your  release.  I beseech  you  to  respond 
to  this  offering  which  I make  to  you,  and  obtain 
for  me  from  God,  with  Whom  you  are  so  powerful 
on  behalf  of  the  living,  that  I may  be  freed  from 
all  dangers  of  soul  and  body;  I beg  both  for  myself 
and  for  my  relations  and  benefactors,  friends  and 
enemies,  pardon  for  our  sins,  and  the  grace  of 
perseverance  in  good,  whereby  we  may  save  our 
souls.  Set  us  free  from  all  misfortunes,  miseries, 
sicknesses,  trials,  and  labors.  Obtain  for  us 
peace  of  heart;  assist  us  in  all  our  actions;  suc- 
cor us  promptly  in  all  our  spiritual  and  temporal 
needs;  console  and  defend  us  in  our  dangers. 
Pray  for  the  supreme  Pontiff,  for  the  exaltation 
of  holy  Church,  for  peace  between  nations,  for 
Christian  princes,  and  for  tranquillity  among; 
peoples;  and  obtain  that  we  may  one  day  all 
rejoice  together  in  paradise.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XHI, 
Dec.  14,  1889. 


Ferstcle  an tf  Responses  for  tijr  HBrati 


EQUIEM  aeternam 
dona  eis,  Domine. 
R . Et  lux  perpetua  lu- 
ceat  eis. 

V.  Requiescant  in 
pace. 

R . Amen. 


TERNAL  rest  grant 
unto  them,  O Lord. 
R . And  let  perpetual 
light  shine  upon  them. 

V.  May  they  rest  in 
peace. 

R.  Amen. 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time,  applicable  only  to 
the  dead.  — Pius  X,  Feb.  13,  1908. 


418 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 
Be  IProhmtits  for  tfjc  JIattijful  HBcprarteU 
Psalm  129 


E profundis  clamavi 
ad  te,  Domine:  Do- 
mine,  exaudi  vocem  meam. 

Fiant  aures  tuae  inten- 
dentes : in  vocem  depreca- 
tionis  meae. 

Si  iniquitates  observa- 
veris,  Domine:  Domine, 
quis  sustinebit? 

Quia  apud  te  propitiatio 
est:  et  propter  legem  tuam 
sustinui  te,  Domine. 

Sustinuit  anima  mea  in 
verbo  ejus : speravit  anima 
mea  in  Domino. 

A custodia  matutina  us- 
que ad  noctem:  speret 
Israel  in  Domino. 

Quia  apud  Dominum 
misericordia : et  copiosa 
apud  eum  redemptio. 

Et  ipse  redimet  Israel, 
ex  omnibus  iniquitatibus 
ejus. 

V.  Requiem  aeternam 
dona  eis,  Domine. 

R.  Et  lux  perpetua  lu- 
ceat  eis. 

V.  Requiescant  in  pace. 

R.  Amen. 


OUT  of  the  depths  have 
I cried  unto  Thee,  O 
Lord : Lord,  hear  my  voice. 

Let  Thine  ears  be  atten- 
tive to  the  voice  of  my  sup- 
plication. 

If  Thou,  O Lord,  wilt 
mark  iniquities : Lord,  who 
shall  abide  it? 

For  with  Thee  there  is 
merciful  forgiveness : and 
because  of  Thy  law  I have 
waited  for  Thee,  O Lord. 

My  soul  hath  waited  on 
His  word:  my  soul  hath 
hoped  in  the  Lord. 

From  the  morning  watch 
even  until  night  let  Israel 
hope  in  the  Lord. 

For  with  the  Lord  there 
is  mercy;  and  with  Him 
is  plenteous  redemption. 

And  He  shall  redeem 
Israel  from  all  his  iniqui- 
ties. 

V.  Eternal  rest  grant 
unto  them,  O Lord. 

R.  And  let  perpetual 
light  shine  upon  them. 

V.  May  they  rest  in 
peace. 

R.  Amen. 


Let  us  pray 

OGOD,  the  Creator  and  Redeemer  of  all  the  faith- 
ful, grant  to  the  souls  of  Thy  servants  departed 
the  remission  of  all  their  sins,  that  through  pious  sup- 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


419 


plications  they  may  obtain  that  pardon  which  they  have 
always  desired.  Who  livest  and  reignest  now  and  for 
ever.  Amen. 

Ejaculation  of  <&t.  Jerome  Emtltant 

WEE  TEST  Jesus,  be  to  me  not  a Judge,  but  a 
Saviour. 

Indulgence  of  50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Aug.  11, 
1851. 

^fjort  Stager  in  J^onor  of  tfje  |§olg  jfanuig 

y^RANT  us,  O Lord  Jesus,  faithfully  to  imitate  the 
V£)  examples  of  Thy  Holy  Family,  so  that  in  the  hour 
of  our  death,  in  the  company  of  Thy  glorious  Virgin 
Mother  and  St.  Joseph,  we  may  deserve  to  be  received 
by  Thee  into  eternal  tabernacles. 

Indulgence  of  200  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March 
25,  1897. 


GTfjree  Offerings  in  f^onor  of  tfje  Blessed  Virgin  fftarg 

yTvOST  Holy  Virgin,  I venerate  thee  with  my  whole 
-4  heart  above  all  angels  and  saints  in  paradise,  as 
the  daughter  of  the  Eternal  Father,  and  I consecrate  to 
thee  my  soul  with  all  its  powers.  Hail  Mary. 

y^pvOST  Holy  Virgin,  I venerate  thee  with  my  whole 
heart  above  all  angels  and  saints  in  paradise,  as 
the  Mother  of  the  only-begotten  Son,  and  I consecrate 
to  thee  my  body  with  all  its  senses.  Hail  Mary. 

/TvOST  Holy  Virgin,  I venerate  thee  with  my  whole 
heart  above  all  angels  and  saints  in  paradise,  as 
the  spouse  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  I consecrate  to  thee 
my  heart  and  all  its  affections,  praying  thee  to  obtain 
for  me  from  the  ever-blessed  Trinity  all  that  is  neces- 
sary for  my  salvation.  Hail  Mary. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Leo  XII,  Oct.  21, 
1823. 


420 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


■^rager  of  Sbt  ‘Elpljottsus  ILtguort  to  bt  &aiti  Before  a 
Bepresentation  of  ®ur  ILatig 

/TvOST  holy  and  immaculate  Virgin!  O my  Mother, 
>14  thou  who  art  the  Mother  of  my  Lord,  the  Queen 
of  the  world,  the  advocate,  hope,  and  refuge  of  sinners! 
I,  the  most  wretched  among  them,  now  come  to  thee. 
I worship  thee,  great  Queen,  and  give  thee  thanks  for 
the  many  favors  thou  hast  bestowed  on  me  in  the  past; 
most  of  all  do  I thank  thee  for  having  saved  me  from 
hell,  which  I had  so  often  deserved.  I love  thee,  Lady 
most  worthy  of  all  love,  and,  by  the  love  which  I bear 
thee,  I promise  ever  in  the  future  to  serve  thee,  and  to 
do  what  in  me  lies  to  win  others  to  thy  love.  In  thee 
I put  all  my  trust,  all  my  hope  of  salvation.  Receive 
me  as  thy  servant,  and  cover  me  with  the  mantle  of  thy 
protection,  thou  who  art  the  Mother  of  mercy!  And 
since  thou  hast  so  much  power  with  God,  deliver  me 
from  all  temptations,  or  at  least  obtain  for  me  the  grace 
ever  to  overcome  them.  From  thee  I ask  a true  love 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  grace  of  a happy  death.  O my 
Mother,  by  thy  love  for  God  I beseech  thee  to  be  at 
all  times  my  helper,  but  above  all  at  the  last  moment 
of  my  life.  Leave  me  not  until  thou  seest  me  safe  in 
heaven,  there  for  endless  ages  to  bless  thee  and  sing 
thy  praises.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Sept.  7, 
1854. 


IB  equation  of  &t.  ^logstus  to  ®ur  ILatig 

/TvOST  holy  Mary,  my  Lady,  into  thy  blessed  trust 
and  special  custody,  and  into  the  bosom  of  thy 
mercy  I this  day,  every  day,  and  in  the  hour  of  my 
death,  commend  my  soul  and  my  body : to  thee  I com- 
mit all  my  anxieties  and  miseries,  my  life  and  the  end 
of  my  life,  that  by  thy  most  holy  intercession  and  by 
thy  merits  all  my  actions  may  be  directed  and  disposed 
according  to  thy  will  and  that  of  thy  Son.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  200  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March 
15,  1890. 


o 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT  421 
iSjacttlattcn  to  ®itr  ILa&g  of  tije  ISlesseU  Sacrament 
UR  Lady  of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament,  pray  for 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time  (before  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  exposed).  — Pius  X,  January  10,  1906. 


iPrager  to  UHarg,  Cur  ILatrg  of  ®ooU  Counsel 

OST  glorious  Virgin,  chosen  by  the  Eternal 
,\l/  Counsel  to  be  the  Mother  of  the  Eternal  Word 
made  man,  treasure-house  of  divine  graces  and  advo- 
cat  of  sinners ; I,  the  most  unworthy  of  thy  servants, 
have  recourse  to  thee,  begging  of  thee  to  be  my  guide 
and  counselor  in  this  vale  of  tears.  Obtain  for  me, 
through  the  most  precious  blood  of  thy  divine  Son,  for- 
giveness of  my  sins,  and  the  salvation  of  my  soul  with 
all  the  means  necessary  to  secure  it.  Obtain  for  Holy 
Church  triumph  over  her  enemies  and  the  extension  of 
the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ  over  the  whole  earth. 
Amen. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Nov.  23, 
1880. 

!5j  actuations 

^J^  ARY,  our  hope,  have  pity  on  us. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Jan.  8,  1906. 

Mary,  Virgin  Mother  of  God,  pray  to  Jesus  for  me. 

Indulgence  of  50  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March  29, 
1894. 

Mother  of  love,  of  sorrow,  and  of  mercy,  pray  for  us. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  30, 
1908. 

Stager  to  Cut  3LaUg,  HHotfjer  of  Confluence 

IMMACULATE  Mary,  when  we  venerate  thee  under 
the  gracious  title  of  Mother  of  Confidence  how 
our  hearts  overflow  with  the  sweetest  consolation,  how 


422 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


we  are  moved  to  hope  for  every  good  gift  from  thee. 
That  such  a name  should  have  been  given  to  thee  is  a 
sign  that  none  have  recourse  to  thee  in  vain.  Receive, 
then,  with  a mother’s  compassion,  these  acts  of  homage, 
with  which  we  earnestly  pray  thee  to  be  propitious  to 
us  in  every  necessity.  Above  all,  we  ask  thee  to  make 
us  live  ever  united  to  thee  and  thy  divine  Son  Jesus. 
Under  thy  escort  we  shall  safely  walk  along  the  straight 
road;  and  so  shall  it  be  our  lot  to  hear  on  the  last  day 
of  our  lives  those  consoling  words:  Come,  O faithful 
servant,  enter  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  200  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  June  23, 
1902. 


Cijaplet  in  J^ottor  of  tlje  Ihnmaculate  JiJeart  of  fSarg 


x> 


EUS  in  adjuto- 
rium  meum  in- 


tende. 

R . Domine  ad  adjuvan- 
dum  me  festina. 

V.  Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio, 


etc. 

R.  Sicut  erat  in  prin- 
cipio,  etc. 


V . GOD,  come  to  my 

assistance. 

R ^ O Lord,  make  haste 
to  help  me. 

V . Glory  be  to  the 
Father,  etc. 

R.  As  it  was  in  the  be- 
ginning, etc. 


I 

IMMACULATE  Virgin,  who,  conceived  without  sin, 
didst  direct  every  movement  of  thy  most  pure  heart 
to  that  God  Who  was  ever  the  object  of  thy  love,  and 
who  wast  ever  most  submissive  to  His  will ; obtain  for 
me  the  grace  to  hate  sin  with  my  whole  heart,  and  to 
learn  of  thee  to  live  in  perfect  resignation  to  the  will  of 
God. 

Our  Father,  once;  Hail  Mary,  seven  times. 

Heart  transpierced  with  pain  and  woe! 

Set  my  heart  with  love  aglow. 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


423 


II 

I MARVEL,  Mary,  at  thy  deep  humility,  through 
which  thy  blessed  heart  was  troubled  at  the  gra- 
cious message  brought  thee  by  Gabriel,  the  archangel, 
that  thou  wast  chosen  Mother  of  the  Son  of  the  Most 
High,  and  through  which  thou  didst  proclaim  thyself 
His  humble  handmaid;  wherefore,  in  great  confusion 
at  the  sight  of  my  pride,  I ask  thee  for  the  grace  of  a 
contrite  and  humble  heart,  that,  knowing  my  own 
misery,  I may  obtain  that  crown  of  glory  promised  to 
the  truly  humble  of  heart. 

Our  Father,  etc.,  Heart,  etc. 


Ill 

BLESSED  Virgin,  who  in  thy  sweetest  heart  didst 
keep  as  a precious  treasure  the  words  of  Jesus, 
thy  Son,  and,  pondering  on  the  lofty  mysteries  they 
contained,  didst  learn  to  live  for  God  alone;  how  doth 
my  cold  heart  confound  me!  O dearest  Mother,  get 
me  grace  so  to  meditate  within  my  heart  upon  God’s 
holy  law  that  I may  strive  to  follow  thee  in  the  fervent 
practice  of  every  Christian  virtue. 

Our  Father,  etc.,  Heart,  etc. 


IV 

LORIOUS  Queen  of  martyrs,  whose  sacred  heart 
V£>  was  pierced  in  thy  Son’s  bitter  passion  by  the 
sword  whereof  the  holy  old  Simeon  had  prophesied; 
gain  for  my  heart  true  courage  and  a holy  patience  to 
bear  the  troubles  and  misfortunes  of  this  miserable  life, 
so  that  by  crucifying  my  flesh  with  its  desires,  while 
following  the  mortification  of  the  cross,  I may,  indeed, 
show  myself  to  be  a true  son  of  thine. 

Our  Father,  etc.,  Heart,  etc. 

V 

OMARY,  mystical  rose,  with  loving  heart,  burning 
with  the  living  fire  of  charity,  Thou  didst  accept 
us  for  thy  children  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  becoming 


424 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


thus  our  tender  Mother;  make  me  feel  the  sweetness 
of  thy  maternal  heart  and  thy  power  with  Jesus,  that, 
when  menaced  by  the  perils  of  this  mortal  life,  and  most 
of  all  in  the  dread  hour  of  death,  my  heart,  united  with 
thine,  may  love  my  Jesus  then  and  through  all  ages. 
Amen. 

Our  Father,  etc.,  Heart,  etc. 


*t- 'ET  us  now  turn  to  the  most  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus 
J I that  He  may  inflame  us  with  His  holy  love. 

O divine  Heart  of  Jesus!  to  Thee  I consecrate  my- 
self, full  of  deep  gratitude  for  the  many  blessings  I 
have  received  and  daily  do  receive  from  Thy  boundless 
charity.  With  my  whole  heart  I thank  Thee  for  hav- 
ing, in  addition  to  them  all,  vouchsafed  to  give  me  Thy 
own  most  holy  Mother,  giving  me  to  her  as  a son,  in 
the  person  of  the  beloved  disciple.  Let  my  heart  ever 
burn  with  love  for  Thee,  finding  in  Thy  sweetest  Heart 
its  peace,  its  refuge,  and  its  happiness. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Dec.  xx, 
1854. 

iSjaculattons 


s 


WEET  heart  of  Mary,  be  my  salvation! 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Sept.  30, 
1852. 


Mary,  Mother  of  God,  and  Mother  of  mercy,  pray 
for  us  and  for  the  departed. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Dec.  15, 
1883. 


Mary,  sorrowful  Mother  of  all  Christians,  pray  for  us. 
Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  June  27, 
1906. 

Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for  us. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  9, 1907. 


Our  Lady  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  pray  for  us. 
Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  July  9, 1904. 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


42S 

'Entfjrm,  Ferstcie,  anti  iPragcr,  in  J^onor  of  tfjc  immaculate 
filarg 

HIS  is  the  rod  in  which  was  neither  knot  of 
V5)  original  sin,  nor  rind  of  actual  guilt. 

In  thy  conception,  O Virgin,  thou  wast  immacu- 


Ant. 


V. 
late. 

R.  Pray  for  us  to  the  Father,  Whose  Son  thou  didst 
bring  forth. 

Let  us  pray 

OG0D,  Who,  by  the  immaculate  conception  of  the 
Virgin,  didst  prepare  a worthy  habitation  for  Thy 
Son;  we  beseech  Thee,  that  as  in  view  of  the  death  of 
that  Son  Thou  didst  preserve  her  from  all  stain  of  sin, 
so  Thou  wouldst  enable  us,  being  made  pure  by  her 
intercession,  to  come  unto  Thee.  Through  the  same 
Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  March  31, 
1876. 

Ejaculation 

OMARY,  who  didst  enter  the  world  free  from  stain, 
do  thou  obtain  for  me  from  God  that  I may  pass 
out  of  it  free  from  sin. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  March  27, 
1863. 

invocation  to  fHarg  immaculate 

'X^OLY  Virgin  Mary  immaculate,  Mother  of  God 
,-Lb  and  our  mother,  speak  thou  for  us  to  the  Heart 
of  Jesus,  Who  is  thy  Son  and  our  brother. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Dec.  20, 
1890. 

Consecration  anti  ^rager  to  Cur  ILatrg  of  perpetual  J^clp 

/'XvOST  holy  Virgin  Mary,  Mother  of  God,  whom  I 
love  to  honor  under  the  title  of  Mother  of  Per- 
petual Help,  I,  N.,  although  most  unworthy  to  be  thy 
servant,  yet,  moved  by  thy  wonderful  compassion,  and 


PRAYERS  FOR  VISITS 


426 

by  my  desire  to  serve  thee,  now  choose  thee,  in  presence 
of  my  guardian  angel  and  of  the  whole  celestial  court, 
for  my  queen,  advocate,  and  mother:  and  I firmly  pur- 
pose always  to  love  and  serve  thee  for  the  future,  and 
to  do  whatever  I can  to  induce  others  to  love  and  serve 
thee  also.  I beseech  thee,  O Mother  of  God,  and  my 
most  compassionate  and  loving  mother,  by  the  blood 
which  thy  Son  shed  for  me,  to  receive  me  into  the  num- 
ber of  thy  servants,  to  be  thy  child  and  servant  for  ever. 
Assist  me  in  my  thoughts,  words,  and  actions  every 
moment  of  my  life,  so  that  all  may  be  directed  to  the 
greater  glory  of  my  God ; and  through  thy  most  power- 
ful intercession  may  I never  more  offend  my  beloved 
Jesus,  but  may  I glorify  Him,  and  love  Him  on  earth, 
and  enjoy  and  praise  Him  with  thee  forever  in  heaven. 
Amen. 

Mary,  Help  of  Christians,  pray  for  us! 


lEjaculatton 

ARY,  Mother  of  God,  and  Mother  of  mercy,  pray 
>1/  for  us  and  for  the  departed. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Dec.  15, 
1883. 

draper  to  Uftarg  ®ur  helper 
ppv  OST  holy  and  immaculate  Virgin  Mary,  our  most 
f\l/t  tender  Mother,  and  powerful  Help  of  Christians, 
we  dedicate  ourselves  entirely  to  thy  most  sweet  love 
and  holy  service.  We  consecrate  our  minds  with  all 
their  thoughts,  our  hearts  with  all  their  affections,  our 
bodies  with  all  their  senses  and  powers,  and  we  promise 
to  desire  always  to  work  for  the  greater  glory  of  God 
and  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  Meanwhile  do  thou,  O 
incomparable  Virgin,  who  hast  always  been  the  Help 
of  the  Christian  people,  continue  to  show  thyself  such, 
especially  in  these  days.  Humble  the  enemies  of  our 
holy  religion,  and  frustrate  their  evil  purposes.  En- 
lighten and  strengthen  bishops  and  priests,  and  keep 
them  ever  united  in  obedience  to  the  Pope,  their  in- 
fallible Master.  Preserve  incautious  youth  from  irre- 


TO  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 


427 


ligion  and  vice.  Promote  holy  vocations  and  increase 
the  number  of  thy  sacred  ministers,  that  by  means  of 
them  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ  may  be  preserved 
among  us,  and  extended  to  the  farthest  boundaries  of 
the  earth. 

We  pray  thee  also,  most  sweet  Mother,  to  look  at  all 
times  with  compassion  upon,  the  young  and  thoughtless, 
exposed  to  so  many  dangers,  and  upon  poor  sinners 
and  the  dying;  be  for  all  a sweet  hope,  O Mary,  Mother 
of  Mercy  and  Gate  of  Heaven. 

Also  we  pray  thee  for  ourselves,  O great  Mother  of 
God.  Teach  us  to  copy  thy  virtues  and  especially 
angelic  modesty,  profound  humility,  and  ardent  charity ; 
so  that  by  word  and  example  we  may,  as  far  as  is  pos- 
sible in  our  state  of  life,  present  in  the  midst  of  the 
world  a living  image  of  blessed  Jesus,  thy  Son,  and  may 
cause  thee  to  be  known  and  loved,  and  so  may  succeed 
in  saving  many  souls. 

Obtain  for  us,  O Mary  our  Helper,  that  we  may  be 
all  gathered  under  thy  maternal  mantle,  that  in  temp- 
tation we  may  invoke  thee  promptly  and  confidently; 
in  short,  that  the  thought  of  thee,  so  good,  so  loving, 
and  so  dear,  and  the  remembrance  of  the  love  which 
thou  bearest  to  thy  clients  may  be  such  a support  to  us, 
as  to  render  us  victorious  over  the  enemies  of  our  souls 
in  life  and  in  death,  so  that  we  may  become  thy  crown 
in  beautiful  paradise.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Leo  XIII,  March 
10,  1900. 


^tous  lExerctse  in  f^onor  of  ®ur  ILatig  of  JBolors 


ANCTA  mater  istud 
agas, 

Crucifixi  fige  plagas, 

Cordi  meo  valide. 


©ID  me  bear,  O mother 
blessed! 

On  my  heart  the  wounds 
impressed. 

Suffered  by  the  Crucified. 


An  indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day,  to  those  who,  with 
contrite  heart,  shall  say  the  Hail  Mary,  seven  times  and,  after 
each  Hail  Mary,  the  stanza  as  above.  — Pius  VII,  Dec.  1, 
1815. 


428  THE  BLESSED  SACRAMENT 

^rager  to  tfye  BlesseU  Ftrgm  fHarg,  0ur  ILatijr  of 
ifortotos 


OM0ST  holy  and  afflicted  Virgin  Mary,  queen  of 
martyrs ! thou  who  didst  stand  beneath  the  cross, 
witnessing  the  agony  of  thy  divine  Son  — through  the 
unceasing  sufferings  of  thy  life  of  sorrow,  and  the  bliss 
which  now  more  Qian  amply  repays  thee  for  thy  past 
trials,  look  down  with  a mothers  tenderness  and  pity 
on  me,  who  kneel  before  thee  to  venerate  thy  dolors, 
and  place  my  requests,  with  filial  confidence,  in  the 
sanctuary  of  thy  wounded  heart ; present  them,  I be- 
seech thee,  on  my  behalf,  to  Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son. 
Through  the  merits  of  His  most  sacred  passion  and 
death,  and  through  thy  sufferings  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross,  I hope  to  obtain  the  grant  of  my  present  petition. 
To  whom  shall  I recur  in  my  trials  and  my  wants  if  not 
to  thee,  O mother  of  mercy,  O mother  of  sorrows? 
Great  as  the  sea  was  the  anguish  of  thy  heart;  un- 
fathomably  deep  was  the  agony  of  thy  soul;  hence, 
thou  canst  compassionate  the  woes  of  those  who  still 
sigh  in  the  land  of  exile.  Holy  Mary,  mother  of  sor- 
rows, pray  for  us. 

Show  that  thou  art  indeed  our  Mother  bequeathed 
to  us  by  thy  divine  Son  in  His  agony  on  the  cross,  and 
obtain  for  me,  O help  of  Christians,  the  favor  I desire, 
and  the  grace  to  use  it  for  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the 
salvation  of  my  soul. 

Obtain  for  me,  through  thy  powerful  intercession,  the 
grace  that  I may  live  a holy  life,  die  a happy  death,  and 
eventually  attain  to  the  everlasting  bliss  of  heaven. 
Amen. 

lEjaculatton 


ARY,  sorrowful  Mother  of  all  Christians,  pray 
for  us. 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  June  27, 
1906. 


Gbe  prisoner  of  Xove 

“ Come , ye  blessed  of  My  Father . ...  I was  in  prison 
and  ye  visited  Me.”  — St.  Matthew. 

TrJznitt  ^Horentus ! 

Who  is  This  Prisoner  of  Love  in  the  Tabernacle  of  the 
Altar  ? 

IT  IS  Jesus  — Jesus  the  Son  of  the  living  God 
— Jesus  the  Son  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  It  is 
the  eternal  Word,  that  is  to  say,  the  power  that 
can  do  all  things;  the  wisdom  that  governs  all 
things;  the  goodness , the  mercy , that  knows  no 
bounds.  It  is  the  joy  of  heaven  and  the  salva- 
tion of  the  world. 


What  is  the  Occupation  of  This  Prisoner  of  Love? 

IS  our  mediator;  He  offers  Himself  to  His 
«J-G  Father;  He  immolates  Himself  for  the  good 
of  mankind. 

He  expiates  our  faults  and  those  of  the  whole 
world,  remaining  there  on  the  altar  neglected  and 
forgotten. 

He  watches,  He  prays,  He  pleads,  He  arrests 
the  arm  of  God,  which  is  frequently  raised  to' 
strike  us  — to  punish  the  guilty  world. 

He  is  meek  and  humble  and  patient;  He  calls 
and  never  wearies  in  His  efforts  to  reform  the 
sinner,  to  reanimate  the  lukewarm,  to  sanctify 
and  save  souls. 

He  cures  the  sick  of  soul  and  the  sick  of  body; 
He  gives  Himself  to  those  who  desire  Him.  He 
hearkens  to  the  prayers,  the  sighs,  the  lamenta- 
tions, the  desires  of  our  hearts.  He  may  at  times 
429 


THE  PRISONER  OF  LOVE 


430 

not  grant  what  we  ask  of  Him,  because  He  knows 
it  is  not  good  for  us,  but  He  never  fails  to  console 
and  strengthen  us,  to  help  us  in  the  way  of  sal- 
vation. 

What  is  the  Desire  of  This  Prisoner  of  Love? 
*"p^E  DESIRES  and  pleads  for  hearts  that  re- 
c-L&  turn  love  for  love;  hearts  that  console  Him, 
that  make  reparation  to  Him  for  the  neglect,  the 
indifference,  and  the  impiety  of  sinners.  He 
would  teach  all  hearts  to  be  meek  and  humble 
and  submissive  to  the  will  of  His  heavenly  Father. 

He  longs  for  hearts  that  are  willing  to  join  with 
Him  in  appeasing  the  divine  justice  by  prayer , 
suffering , and  good  works;  in  striving  for  the  sal- 
vation and  happiness  of  mankind;  for  “He  gave 
Himself  a redemption  for  all .”  (i  Tim . ii.  6.) 


Uemte  Etoorentus 

aOME,  let  us  surround  this  prisoner  of  love; 

let  us  compensate  Him  by  our  loving  repa- 
ration for  the  injuries  He  receives  in  the  sacra- 
ment of  His  love;  let  us  weep  at  the  foot  of  the 
altar;  let  us  consecrate  ourselves  to  His  service, 
and  pray  that  we  may  love  Him  more  and  more 
and  that  nothing  may  ever  be  able  to  separate  us 
from  him. 


Whom  Does  This  Prisoner  of  Love  Cherish  Most? 

*np^E  LOVES  especially  those  who,  like  Him- 
self,  are  meek  and  humble  of  heart. 

He  cherishes  and  heaps  His  favors  upon  the 
truly  humble  soul;  it  is,  indeed,  the  humble  soul 
that  penetrates  most  deeply  into  His  sacred  Heart, 
“fount  of  life  and  holiness .” 


THE  PRISONER  OF  LOVE 


43i 


This  Prisoner  of  Love  prefers  the  silent  soul, 
the  one  that  is  most  detached  from  creatures,  the 
one  that  practises  evangelical  simplicity.  Such  a 
soul  He  leads  to  the  highest  sanctity;  therefore, 
let  us  cultivate  simplicity  of  intention  and  purity 
of  heart ; let  us  say  frequently  and  fervently : All 
for  Thee , most  sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  ! 

He  prefers  the  mortified  soul,  the  patient  soul, 
the  charitable  and  kind  soul,  upon  whom  He 
lavishes  the  sweetest  favors. 

He  cherishes  the  obedient  soul,  to  whom  He 
grants  His  choicest  blessings.  Let  us  pray  for 
the  virtues  that  are  so  dear  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus. 
Let  us  strive  most  earnestly  to  acquire  them. 


lEjamlattons 

EET  us,  with  Mary  Immaculate,  adore,  thank,  pray 
to,  and  console  the  most  sacred  and  well-beloved 
Eucharistic  Heart  of  Jesus. 

Indulgence  of  200  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Dec.  19, 1904. 


Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  Thy  kingdom  come! 
300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  4,  1906. 


Divine  Heart  of  Jesus,  convert  sinners,  save 
the  dying,  set  free  the  holy  souls  in  purgatory. 
300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Nov.  6,  1906. 

Sweet  Heart  of  my  Jesus, 

Make  me  love  Thee  ever  more  and  more! 

300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Nov.  26,  1876. 

O Sacrament  most  holy!  O Sacrament  divine! 
All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  moment 
Thine! 


432 


THE  PRISONER  OF  LOVE 
3ts us,  UHaster,  &eadj  fflz 

EACH  me,  teach  me,  dearest  Jesus, 
In  Thine  own  sweet,  loving  way, 

All  the  lessons  of  perfection 
I must  practise  day  by  day. 


Teach  me  meekness , dearest  Jesus, 
Of  Thine  own  the  counterpart; 
Not  in  words  and  actions  only, 

But  the  meekness  of  the  heart. 

Teach  humility , sweet  Jesus, 

To  this  poor,  proud  heart  of  mine, 
Which  yet  wishes,  O my  Jesus, 

To  be  modeled  after  Thine. 


Teach  me  fervor , dearest  Jesus, 
To  comply  with  every  grace, 
So  as  never  to  look  backward, 
Never  slacken  in  the  race. 


Teach  me  poverty , sweet  Jesus, 

That  my  heart  may  never  cling, 

To  whate’er  its  love  might  sever, 

From  my  Saviour,  spouse,  and  king. 

Teach  me  chastity , sweet  Jesus, 

That  my  every  day  may  see 
Something  added  to  the  likeness 
That  my  soul  should  bear  to  Thee. 

Teach  obedience , dearest  Jesus, 

Such  as  was  Thy  daily  food 
In  Thy  toilsome  earthly  journey 
From  the  cradle  to  the  rood. 


Teach  Thy  heart , to  me,  dear  Jesus, 

Is  my  fervent,  final  prayer; 

For  all  beauties  and  perfections 

Are  in  full  perfection  there.  — Leaflets . 


a ZlDetbob  for  tbe  Ibour  of  Hboration 

Practised  Once  a Week  or  Once  a Month,  at  the  QuaranV 
Ore  ( Forty  Hours),  on  Holy  Thursday,  or  on  Other 
Feasts  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament 

IT  MAY  be  difficult  to  keep  the  attention  fixed  on  prayer 
during  a whole  hour,  no  matter  how  much  you  may  desire 
to  do  so;  hence  it  is  advisable  to  divide  it  into  parts, 
each  for  a particular  intention,  so  that  the  hour  may  leave 
the  soul  filled  with  the  sweet  sense  of  having  spent  so  long 
a time  in  close  converse  with  Jesus,  instead  of  deserving  to 
hear  from  His  lips  the  reproach  He  spoke  to  the  apostles 
who  slept  the  sleep  of  fatigue,  while  He  lay  in  agony  under 
the  olive-trees  praying  for  their  salvation:  “ Could  you  not 
watch  one  hour  with  Me?” 

If  your  health  permit  it,  make  the  Hour  of  Adoration  on 
your  knees.  But  do  not  over-fatigue  yourself  or  you  can- 
not pray  so  well:  St.  Teresa  advised  the  avoidance  of  painful 
or  inconvenient  positions  at  prayer. 

Always  begin  and  end  your  adoration  on  your  knees,  and 
when  you  are  obliged  to  sit  down,  fancy  that  you  take  the 
place  of  her  who  chose  the  better  part,  and  sat  at  Our  Lord’s 
feet  in  humility,  and  love,  and  reverence. 

[Recite  the  prayer  of  St.  Alphonsus  for  a visit  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament,  page  365,  and  do  not  conclu'de  the  hour 
without  making  an  act  of  spiritual  communion.] 


JFtrst  Quarter  of  an  J§our 

Five  Minutes 

Place  yourself  in  the  presence  of  Jesus,  the  good  God, 
the  almighty  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  Who  is  there  await- 
ing your  meed  of  adoration,  thanksgiving,  reparation,  and 
loving,  trustful  supplication. 

OMY  Lord  Jesus,  Son  of  God,  son  of  Mary!  I be- 
lieve that  Thou  art  here  present.  I adore  Thee 
beneath  the  sacramental  veils,  and  thank  Thee  for  the 
knowledge  of  this  ineffable  mystery.  Receive,  O good 
and  merciful  Jesus  — my  divine  Master,  my  Lord  and 
my  God  — the  homage  I pay  Thee  in  union  with  that 

433 


434 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


of  the  angels,  the  guardians  of  this  sanctuary.  I offer 
Thee  the  eternal  gratitude  of  the  saints  for  all  the  bene- 
fits which  continually  flow  from  the  Blessed  Eucharist. 
Deign  to  make  it  known  and  honored  throughout  the 
world. 

I offer  Thee  this  visit  in  particular  in  thanksgiving 
for  the  institution  of  this  divine  Sacrament;  to  honor 
all  the  consecrated  Hosts  in  the  world;  to  repair  the 
outrages  which  they  daily  receive  from  sacrilegious 
communions  and  the  blasphemies  of  the  impious  and 
of  heretics.  And  lastly,  I offer  it  to  Thee  in  reparation 
for  the  abandonment  and  poverty  in  which  the  adorable 
Eucharist  dwells  in  so  many  places. 

O my  Jesus,  fill  with  Thy  blessings  these  moments  of 
adoration  and  of  converse  with  Thee ; preserve  me  from 
distractions  during  the  hour  in  which  I come  to  honor 
Thee. 

Recite  a decade  of  the  Rosary  in  a spirit  of  adoration. 


Five  Minutes 

>^HINK  what  happiness  is  yours  to  be  admitted  thus 
to  the  presence  of  Jesus.  How  many  sick  people 
sigh  for  Him  and  can  not  come  to  Him.  How  many 
mothers  long  to  come  and  speak  to  Him  of  their  chil- 
dren and  all  their  cares,  and  can  not  leave  home  to 
visit  Him.  How  many  in  distant  lands  where  churches 
are  few,  or  in  the  lonely  heart  of  the  country,  long  with 
an  exile’s  longing  to  kneel  before  the  altar  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  as  you  do. 

Oh,  thank  Jesus  from  your  heart  for  the  great  privi- 
lege you  enjoy. 

Recite  a decade  of  the  Rosary  in  a spirit  of  thanksgiving . 


Five  Minutes 

>^HINK  how  Jesus  with  a boundless  liberality  opens 
\zJ  to-day  the  infinite  treasures  of  His  Heart.  You 
are  poor;  come  and  be  made  rich.  You  are  ill;  He 
will  cure  you.  Come,  if  your  heart  is  troubled  and 
anxious;  He  can  calm  it.  Come,  trembling,  guilty 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


435 


soul;  come  and  be  pardoned.  O my  God,  I have  come 
to  spend  this  blessed  hour  with  Thee,  and  Thou  canst 
send  me  forth  a saint.  My  heart  is  open;  O Jesus, 
fill  it  with  Thy  grace,  that  it  may  become  pleasing  to 
Thee. 

O Mother  Mary,  help  me  to  keep  all  the  gifts  my 
good  Master  gives  to  me. 

Recite  one  decade  of  the  Rosary  to  obtain  the  grace  of 
perseverance,  the  grace  of  a holy  life,  a happy  death,  and  a 
blissful  eternity. 

O SACRAMENT  most  holy,  O Sacrament  divine, 
All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  moment 
Thine! 

iSeconti  Quarter  of  an  J^out 
Five  Minutes 

SPEAK  to  Jesus,  in  the  Eucharist,  compassionate 
the  sufferings  of  His  passion  and  His  sufferings 
in  the  tabernacle  where  men  neglect  Him.  I suffer 
for  you,  My  child,  He  says  from  the  tabernacle.  Your 
sins  have  merited  punishment,  and  that  punishment  I 
have  taken  upon  Me.  If  the  hand  of  God  has  not  lain 
heavily  upon  you;  if  you  are  happy;  all  is  due  to  My 
love  for  you. 

What  afflicts  Thee  in  the  tabernacle,  dear  Jesus? 
The  neglect  of  souls  who  leave  Me  alone,  or  grow 
quickly  weary  of  praying  to  Me ; the  sacrileges  of  some ; 
the  blasphemies  of  many  who  join  My  enemies  against 
Me.  O My  child,  make  reparation  to  Me  for  these! 

Recite  a decade  of  the  Rosary  in  reparation  for  the  in- 
juries which  Jesus  suffers  in  the  Sacrament  of  His  love. 


Five  Minutes 

^-'HE  best  means  to  make  reparation  to  Jesus  is  to 
become  yourself  holy  and  pleasing  to  Him.  Tell 
God  that  you  desire  this,  and  desire  it  sincerely . My 
Jesus,  I desire  that  from  this  moment  my  heart  shall 
be  entirely  Thine.  I wish  only  to  please  Thee.  My 
watchword  shall  be : All  for  Thee , most  sacred  Heart 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


436 

of  Jesus!  I will  no  longer  be  amongst  those  who  neg- 
lect Thee  and  cause  Thee  pain.  Inspire  me,  my  God, 
tell  me  what  Thou  wishest  me  to  do. 

O Mary,  help  me  to  amend  my  life!  Pray  for  me 
that  I may  love  Jesus  more  and  more. 

Recite  a decade  of  the  Rosary  for  the  intentions  of  the 
Sacred  Heart. 

Five  Minutes 

>^ELL  Jesus  some  of  the  means  you  intend  to  take 
Vi)  in  order  to  carry  out  your  duties  perfectly;  how 
you  mean  to  be  a saint;  you  will  fly  occasions  of  sin, 
you  will  listen  to  all  holy  thoughts  and  warnings  of  con- 
science, you  will  pray  with  recollection,  you  will  fre- 
quent the  sacraments,  you  will  make  a daily  spiritual 
reading  and  meditation , you  will  walk  in  the  footsteps 
of  the  saints  by  imitating  the  virtues  of  the  Sacred 
Heart  of  Jesus. 

Recite  a decade  of  the  Rosary  to  beg  your  Mother  Mary 
to  take  your  resolutions  under  her  protection  and  to  help 
you  to  keep  them. 

O Sacrament  most  holy,  O Sacrament  divine, 

All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  moment  Thine! 


Quarter  or  an  Jgonr 
Five  Minutes 

— ISTEN  to  Jesus:  “ My  child,  since  you  wish  to 

1 comfort  Me,  to  amend  your  life,  to  become  a 

saint,  commence  to-day  by  accepting,  in  atonement  for 
your  faults  and  in  reparation  for  the  outrages  I suffer 
from  men , all  the  troubles  which  I shall  send  you.  Do 
not  complain,  do  not  murmur ; say  with  Me,  if  they  seem 
hard  to  bear:  O Father , if  it  he  possible , let  this  chalice 
pass  away:  but  always  add  with  Me:  yet  not  my  will , 
hut  Thine  he  done . Then  submit  and  adore  and  bless 
My  will,  knowing  that  all  I permit  is  for  your  salvation.,, 

Say  a decade  of  the  Rosary  in  a spirit  of  resignation  to 
God's  holy  will . 


437 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 
Five  Minutes 

GAIN  listen  to  Jesus:  “ In  order  to  expiate  your 
own  faults  and  in  reparation  for  the  outrages 
done  Me,  you  must  become  filled  with  a lively  faith 
and  a profound  respect  toward  My  majesty  hidden  in 
the  tabernacle.  Everything  around  the  altar  should 
speak  to  your  soul  of  this.  The  lamp,  which  ever  burns 
before  Me,  tells  you  that  I am  present.  The  sanc- 
tuary, enclosed  and  silent,  reminds  you  of  My  sanctity 
and  union  with  God.  The  tabernacle  tells  of  My  love 
for  a hidden  life.  The  purity  of  the  sacred  vessels 
warns  you  of  the  purity  I look  for  in  your  soul.” 

Say  a decade  of  the  Rosary  to  obtain  the  gift  of  faith  — 
perfect  confidence  — fervent  lave  — and  zeal  for  the  glory 
of  the  Holy  Eucharist. 

Five  Minutes 

ONCE  more  listen  to  Jesus:  “ Since  you  wish  to 
expiate  your  faults,  and  to  atone  to  Me  for  the 
outrages  done  Me,  try  to  gain  souls  to  My  service. 
There  are  souls  dear  to  Me  at  this  moment  blasphem- 
ing Me,  and  in  danger  of  dying  an  unhappy  death,  and 
of  being  lost  for  ever.  My  child,  you  can  win  them 
back  to  Me.  Pray,  suffer,  atone,  and  ask  pardon  for 
them.” 

Say  a decade  of  the  Rosary  for  souls  at  the  point  of  death. 

O Sacrament  most  holy,  O Sacrament  divine, 

All  praise  and  all  thanksgiving  be  every  moment  Thine! 


JFourtlj  Quarter  of  an  f^our 
Five  Minutes 


/T\Y  GOD,  I desire  to  do  all  that  Thou  hast  asked 
,Vl^t  of  me;  permit  me,  prostrate  at  Thy  feet,  to 
declare  my  devotion  to  Thy  service.  Too  long,  O Lord, 
have  I served  the  devil  and  the  world!  I will  now,  in 
Thy  presence,  renew  with  true  sincerity  the  promises 
I made  at  Baptism:  “ I renounce  the  devil  with  all  his 
works,  the  world  with  all  its  pomps,  the  flesh  with  all 


438 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


its  temptations.  O Jesus  Christ,  Son  of  the  living 
God,  Light  of  the  world,  I adore  Thee;  for  Thee  I live, 
for  Thee  I die.  Amen. 

Say  a decade  of  the  Rosary  to  obtain  strength  to  keep  your 
5ood  resolutions. 


Five  Minutes 


©Y  GOD,  there  are  two  graces  which  I beg  of  Thee 
to  give  me,  that  I may  keep  all  my  good  resolu- 
tions; the  first  is  a great  devotion  to  the.  Holy  Eucha- 
rist, that  I may  love  it  as  St.  Teresa  did  when  she  braved 
tempest  and  storm  and  the  risk  of  serious  illness  that 
she  might  communicate,  saying  to  those  who  bade  her 
take  care  of  herself:  “Let  me  communicate l I can 
not  live  longer  without  Jesus.”  That  I may  love  it 
with  the  fervor  of  St.  Francis  de  Sales,  the  loud  beat- 
ing of  whose  heart  told  when  the  tabernacle  was 
opened. 

That  I may  love  it  as  did  a holy  child  who  was  always 
preparing  for  holy  communion.  “ This  act  of  self- 
denial,”  she  would  say,  “ is  to  ornament  the  chamber 
of  my  heart  for  Jesus.  This  duty  will  yield  a sweet 
perfume  there.  Each  act  of  silence  will  spread  flowers 
for  His  feet.”  Happy  child!  Whilst  living  for  Jesus 
alone,  she  reaped  the  reward  of  her  goodness  even  on 
earth  in  the  love  of  all  around  her. 


Recite  a decade  of  the  Rosary  to  obtain  devotion  to  the 
Holy  Eucharist  or  the  Litany  of  the  Most  Holy  Name  of  Jesus, 
page  480. 


Five  Minutes 


^^HE  second  grace  I ask  of  Thee  is  devotion  to  the 
Vz)  Blessed  Virgin.  Mary  and  the  Eucharist  can 
not  be  divided.  You  can  not  love  the  Eucharist  with- 
out loving  the  mother  of  Jesus;  you  can  not  be  devout 
to  Mary  without  feeling  drawn  to  frequent  communion. 

O Jesus,  let  me  love  Mary  as  Thou  didst  love  her. 

Let  me  strive  to  please  her  as  Thou  didst  please  her. 

She  is  my  mother,  for  Thou  gavest  her  to  me.  O 
Jesus,  before  I leave  Thy  feet  to-day,  say  once  more 


I 


THE  HOUR  OF  ADORATION 


439 

to  Mary,  as  Thou  didst  on  Calvary : “ Mother , behold 
Thy  child!  ” 

Recite  a decade  of  the  Rosary  or  the  Litany  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary  (page  484)  to  thank  Mary  for  having 
adopted  you  as  her  child,  and  to  obtain,  through  her  inter- 
cession, the  grace  of  fidelity  in  the  service  of  her  divine  Son. 

Resolve,  also,  to  consecrate  yourself  daily  to  the  immacu- 
late heart  of  Mary,  and  to  imitate  her  virtues. 

Recommend  to  Our  Lord  the  interests  of  the  Church, 
the  intentions  of  the  Holy  Father,  the  propagation  of  the 
Faith,  the  sanctification  of  souls,  and  the  relief  of  the  poor 
souls  in  purgatory. 

Pray  Jesus  to  bless  you  and  to  keep  you  in  His  love,  in 
His  grace,  forevermore. 


Entmlgcnceb  ^rager  to  tlj e j5acretJ  %eart  of  for  tlje 

Cfjurclj  antJ  tlje  .Supreme  pontiff;  for  tlje  ILtbtnfl 
anti  tlje  UBeati 

/TvOST  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  shower  copiously 
Thy  blessings  on  Thy  holy  Church,  on  the  Su- 
preme Pontiff,  and  on  all  the  clergy;  grant  perseverance 
to  the  just,  convert  sinners,  enlighten  infidels,  bless  our 
parents,  friends,  and  benefactors,  assist  the  dying, 
liberate  the  souls  in  purgatory,  and  extend  over  all 
hearts  the  sweet  empire  of  Thy  love.  Amen. 
Indulgence  of  300  days.  — Pius  X,  June  16,  1906. 


^Ejaculation 


3 


ESUS,  Mary,  and  good  Joseph,  bless  us,  now  and 
in  the  agony  of  death. 


Indulgence  of  50  days.  — Pius  X,  June  9,  1906. 


Ube  1boh>  Ibour 

>^*HE  Holy  Hour  is  an  exercise  of  prayer,  either  men- 
tal  or  vocal,  in  union  with  the  prayer  of  Our  Lord 
in  the  Garden  of  Olives  on  Maundy  Thursday  night. 
It  was  taught  as  a practice  to  Blessed  Margaret  Mary 


THE  HOLY  HOUR 


440 

Alacoque  by  Our  Lord  Himself,  Who  appeared  to  her 
while  she  was  adoring  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  and  said : 
“ In  the  night,  between  Thursday  and  Friday  each 
week,  I will  make  you  partaker  of  that  sorrow  unto 
death  which  it  was  My  will  to  suffer  in  the  Garden  of 
Olives.  ...  To  join  with  Me  in  the  humble  prayer 
which  I then  offered  to  My  Father,  you  shall  rise  be- 
tween eleven  o’clock  and  midnight;  you  shall  pros- 
trate yourself  with  Me  for  one  hour , with  your  face  to 
the  ground,  both  to  appease  the  anger  of  God  by  im- 
ploring mercy  for  sinners,  and  to  sweeten  in  some  way 
the  bitterness  I felt  when  My  apostles  abandoned  Me, 
being  unable  to  watch  one  hour  with  Me.” 

In  1829,  Father  Debrosse,  S.J.,  founded  a confra- 
ternity in  the  chapel  of  the  Jesuits  at  Paray-le-Monial, 
for  the  purpose  of  spreading  this  devotion.  In  virtue 
of  a rescript  of  Pius  IX,  issued  in  1875,  all  the  asso- 
ciates of  the  Apostleship  of  Prayer  can  gain  the 
plenary  indulgence,  granted  to  the  members  of  the 
Archconfratemity  of  the  Holy  Hour,  for  keeping  the 
Holy  Hour.  The  devotion  may  be  practised  either  in 
public  or  in  private ; if  in  public,  then  any  hour  may  be 
named  for  any  day  in  the  week  by  the  local  directors; 
if  in  private,  then  the  time  is  restricted  to  an  hour, 
between  2 p m.  of  every  Thursday  and  sunrise  on  Fri- 
day. The  Holy  Hour  should  be  offered  in  memory  of 
the  sacred  passion,  in  particular  of  the  prayer  and 
agony  of  Our  Saviour  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemani, 
but  it  may  be  spent  in  prayer  of  any  kind. 

No  particular  place  is  prescribed  for  keeping  the 
Holy  Hour;  hence  even  sick  persons  can  practise  this 
beautiful  devotion ; however,  to  gain  the  plenary  indul- 
gence, the  ordinary  conditions  of  confession,  com- 
munion, and  prayer  for  the  Pope’s  intention  are 
obligatory.  Independently  of  this,  however,  the  pious 
exercise  of  the  Holy  Hour  must  be  most  meritorious  and 
very  pleasing  to  Our  Lord.  We  thereby  make  repara- 
tion to  the  Heart  of  Jesus  for  the  ingratitude  of  men, 
participate  in  Our  Saviour’s  agony,  implore  mercy  for 
sinners,  and  appease  the  anger  of  God. 


THE  HOLY  HOUR 


441 


B flbetbob  for  tbe  1bol£  Ibour 

O method  is  prescribed,  no  special  prayers  are  of 
obligation.  But  it  is  advisable  to  devote  one 
part  of  the  Holy  Hour  to  mental  prayer  or  meditation, 
and  another  part  to  vocal  prayer,  all  in  union  with  Our 
Lord’s  prayer  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemani. 

The  hour  may  be  quite  properly  divided  into  four 
parts,  giving  the  first  and  third  quarters  to  meditation 
or  spiritual  reading,  and  the  second  and  fourth  or  last 
quarters  of  the  hour  to  vocal  prayers ; or  the  Holy  Hour 
may  be  divided  into  two  parts,  giving  the  first  half  to 
meditation  and  the  second  half  to  vocal  prayer. 

1.  Begin  the  hour,  always,  by  picturing  to  yourself 
our  divine  Saviour  kneeling  alone  in  the  Garden  of 
Gethsemani,  and  then,  with  deep  recollection  of  mind, 
meditate  for  a few  moments  on  these  words  of  Jesus: 
“ My  soul  is  sorrowful  even  unto  death.”  (Matt.  xxvi. 
38.) 

2.  Recall  the  words  of  Jesus:  “ My  Father,  if  it  by 
possible,  let  this  chalice  pass  from  Me;  nevertheless, 
not  as  I will,  but  as  Thou  wilt.”  (Matt.  xxvi.  39.) 

3.  Read  slowly,  and  with  serious  reflection,  a chap- 
ter from  some  approved  book,  bearing  on  the  passion 
and  the  love  of  Jesus,  or  on  resignation  and  abandon- 
ment to  the  will  of  God. 

The  following  books  are  suggested  as  suitable  for 
this  purpose:  Perinaldo’s  “ Meditations  on  the  Suffer- 
ings of  Jesus  Christ  ”;  St.  Paul  of  the  Cross’  “ Flowers 
of  the  Passion  ”;  Gallwey’s  “ The  Watches  of  the  Pas- 
sion”;1 The  Gospel  narrative  of  the  passion;  “ Jesus, 
the  All  Beautiful,”  by  the  author  of  “ The  Voice  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  ”;  “ Little  Book  of  Meditations  on  the 
Passion  of  Our  Lord,”  translated  from  the  Italian  by  a 
Passionist  Father;  Brinkmeyers’  “Lover  of  Souls,” 
“ Calvary  and  the  Altar,”  by  the  author  of  “ Reflections 
and  Prayers  for  Holy  Communion  ”;  Thomas  a Kem- 

1 Pious  souls  of  every  class,  by  using  Father  Gallwey’s 
most  admirable  work,  will  feel  their  hearts  burning  with  love 
of  Him  Who  suffered  for  love  of  us  all. 


442 


THE  HOLY  HOUR 


pis*  “Following  of  Christ Book  H,  chapters  vi.  to 
xii. ; Book  III,  all  those  chapters  bearing  on  the  love  of 
Jesus,  on  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  or  on  resignation  to 
the  will  of  God,  and  patience  in  our  own  sufferings; 
Huguet’s  “ Month  of  the  Sacred  Heart,”  and  Da  Ber- 
gamo’s “ Thoughts  and  Affections  on  the  Passion  of 
Jesus  Christ.” 

4.  Recite  some  prayers  from  this  book;  make  Acts 
of  Consecration  and  Reparation  in  honor  of  the  Eucha- 
ristic Heart  of  Jesus;  say  the  Rosary  in  honor  of  the 
sorrowful  mysteries;  perform  some  devotion  in  honor 
of  the  passion  of  Our  Lord  and  the  sorrows  of  Our 
Lady;  finally,  pray  for  the  intentions  of  our  Holy 
Father  the  Pope. 

“(fTotxltJ  gou  not  OTatcfj  ®ne  Jgour  bntlj  fRe?” 

{Matthew,  xxvi.  40) 

IF  THERE  be  one  hour  and  devotion  which  in  a 
special  manner  seems  to  be  exclusively  conse- 
crated to  the  exercise  of  reparation  and  union  with  the 
Sacred  Heart  in  prayer  for  its  own  interests,  assuredly 
it  is  that  which  is  generally  known  as  the  Holy  Hour , 
or  that  in  which,  on  the  night  of  His  sacred  passion, 
Our  Lord  prayed,  sweat  blood,  and  was  agonized  in 
the  Garden  of  Gethsemani.  Let  us  keep,  then,  our 
ordinary  petitions  for  other  moments,  and  let  us,  at 
least  for  this  hour,  try  to  forget  ourselves  and  our 
personal  intentions,  however  good  they  may  be,  and  let 
us,  by  pure  love  of  Our  Lord,  and  desire  of  repairing 
His  griefs,  place  ourselves  in  spirit  at  His  side  and 
watch  with  Him,  in  accordance  with  His  invitation. 

— From  The  Voice  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 


®ffmttg  of  tfj t $oig  Jgour 

QY  most  sweet  Jesus,  I desire  during  this  hour  to 
“ watch  ” with  Thee,  and  by  the  love  of  my  poor 
heart  to  console  Thee  for  the  bitter  sorrow  which  over- 
whelmed Thee  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemani.  I desire 


THE  HOLY  HOUR 


443 


to  forget  myself  and  all  that  concerns  me  excepting  my 
sins,  the  foresight  of  which  caused  Thee  so  much  suf- 
fering in  Thine  agony,  and  as  I was  a cause  of  sorrow 
to  Thee  then,  so  now  I desire  to  be  to  Thee  a consola- 
tion. ...  I offer  Thee,  moreover,  this  hour  of  prayer 
and  reparation  for  the  triumph  of  the  Church,  for  the 
conversion  of  souls  and  of  nations^  and  for  every  other 
intention  for  which  Thou  didst  pray,  sweat  blood,  en- 
dure Thy  agony,  and  accept  Thy  bitter  passion  and 
death.  Angel  of  the  agony,  help  me  so  to  pass  this  Holy 
Hour  that  I may  console  the  Heart  of  my  Jesus  and 
promote  His  interests  throughout  the  world.  — Ibid. 

N.B.  It  will  be  advantageous  for  those  who  are  in 
the  habit  of  watching  the  Holy  Hour  to  read  and  re- 
read the  passages  in  the  Gospels  which  tell  us  of  the 
Prayer , Agony , and  Bloody  Sweat  of  Our  Lord  in  the 
Garden.  By  becoming  familiar  with  the  history  of  it, 
they  will  find  more  facility  in  representing  to  them- 
selves what  then  took  place  and  will  thus  be  enabled 
more  easily  to  form  acts  and  to  pray  in  accordance  with 
it.  Let  us  never  forget  that  Jesus  had  then  present  to 
His  mind,  weighing  on  His  Heart,  and  violating  His 
all-holy  soul,  the  sins  of  the  whole  world,  from  the  be- 
ginning until  the  end  of  time.  If  we  reflect  upon  this, 
reparatory  acts,  acts  of  love,  contrition,  and  condolences, 
together  with  prayer  for  all  those  objects  for  which  He 
endured  such  anguish  during  that  Hour,  will,  as  it 
were,  naturally  present  themselves,  and  the  acts  thus 
formed  and  the  prayers  by  this  means  elicited  will  be 
far  more  full  of  unction  than  such  as  are  read  from  any 
book,  however  appropriate  it  may  be.  — Ibid. 


&cts  bg  hdjtrij  to  2Erttte  ®neself  to  tfjt  fgeart  of  Jesus 
^ragtns  in  tfj e barton  of  ®libes 


EART  of  Jesus,  praying  for  those  who  are  at  this 
hour  sinning  against  Thee,  I unite  myself  to 


Thee. 

Heart  of  Jesus,  praying  for  all  tried  and  tempted 
souls,  I unite  myself  to  Thee. 


444 


THE  HOLY  HOUR 


Heart  of  Jesus,  praying  for  all  Thy  holy  pontiffs  and 
priests  until  the  end  of  time,  that  their  “ faith  may  not 
fail,”  I unite  myself  to  Thee. 

Heart  of  Jesus,  praying  for  every  afflicted  and  sorrow- 
stricken  soul,  and  enduring  their  sorrows  in  Thyself,  I 
unite  myself  to  Thee. 

Heart  of  Jesus,  uttering  Thy  loving  fiat  to  every 
grief  Thou  shouldst* bear  for  man’s  salvation,  I unite 
myself  to  Thee. 

By  the  fear  Thou  didst  will  to  endure  for  us,  sanctify 
our  fears  of  suffering,  of  death,  and  of  judgment,  O 
Sacred  Heart. 

By  Thy  sadness  even  unto  death,  have  pity  on  the 
souls  who  are  now  bowed  down  with  sorrow,  and  give 
them  grace  to  say  in  union  with  Thee : “ My  Father, 
if  this  chalice  may  not  pass  from  Me.  Thy  will,  not  Mine, 
be  done.” 

By  Thy  thrice-repeated  prayer,  O Heart  of  Jesus, 
give  us  grace  to  persevere  in  prayer  amidst  our  sorrows 
and  temptations. 

O Heart  of  Jesus,  in  Thine  agony,  have  pity  on  the 
souls  who  are  now  in  the  agony  of  temptation. 

O Jesus,  Whose  Heart  was  sick  unto  death  at  the 
vision  of  the  sins  which  would  be  committed  until  the 
end  of  time,  make  known  to  us  all  the  malice  of  sin 
and  give  us  an  ever-increasing  horror  of  it  for  Thy  sake. 

O Jesus,  sweating  blood  in  Thy  mortal  anguish; 
may  we  resist  even  unto  the  shedding  of  our  blood 
rather  than  ever  wilfully  sin  against  Thee. 

O sorrow  of  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  Gethsemani,  I 
will  never  forget  thee. 

O prayer  of  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  Gethsemani,  I will 
never  forget  thee. 

O agony  of  the  Heart  of  Jesus  in  Gethsemani,  I will 
never  forget  thee. 

O sweat  of  blood  of  Jesus  in  Gethsemani,  I will  never 
forget  thee. 

For  Thy  boundless  sorrows,  O Heart  of  Jesus,  I de- 
sire to  console  Thee. 

For  the  shame  Thou  didst  feel  at  the  sins  of  the  world, 


THE  HOLY  HOUR 


445 

which  were  laid  upon  Thee,  O Jesus,  I desire  to  con- 
sole Thee. 

For  the  cruel  betrayal  of  Judas/ which  closed  the  • 
hour  of  agony,  O Heart  of  my  Jesus,  I desire  to  console 
Thee. 

For  all  the  outrages  Thou  didst  receive  during  this 
night  of  Thy  passions,  and  for  the  renewal  of  them  now 
by  so  many  souls  throughout  the  ^orld,  O my  Jesus, 

I desire  to  console  Thee. 

— From  The  Voice  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 

lEjacuIattons 

fj^ESUS,  my  God,  I love  Thee  above  all  things. 

Indulgence  of  50  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Nov.  29, 

1853- 

My  Jesus,  mercy! 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  Sept.  24, 
1846. 

Saviour  of  the  world,  have  mercy  on  us. 

50  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Feb.  21,  1891. 


Prager  for  tlje  &obemgn  pontiff 

V.  *T~|ET  us  pray  for  our  Pontiff,  N. 

J—l  R . The  Lord  preserve  him  and  give  him  life 
and  make  him  blessed  upon  earth,  and  deliver  him  not 
up  to  the  will  of  his  enemies. 

Our  Father,  Hail  Mary. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Pius  IX,  Nov.  26. 
1876. 

Prater  for  loti’s  f^olg  Cljurd) 

EISTEN,  in  Thy  clemency,  we  beseech  Thee,  O 
Lord,  to  the  prayers  of  Thy  Church:  do  Thou 
bring  to  naught  all  the  assaults  of  her  enemies ; make 
to  cease  all  false  teaching;  and  enable  her  to  serve 
Thee  in  freedom  and  in  safety. 


THE  HOLY  HOUR 


446 

O Mary,  queen  of  apostles,  pray  thy  Son,  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest,  to  send  laborers  into  His  harvest,  and 
to  spare  His  people. 


draper  to  tty  |§olp  spirit  for  tlje  dljurtf) 

OH0LY  Spirit,  Creator,  propitiously  help  the  Catho- 
lic Church,  and  by  Thy  heavenly  power  strengthen 
and  confirm  it  against  the  assaults  of  the  enemy;  by 
Thy  charity  and  grace  renew  the  spirit  of  Thy  servants 
whom  Thou  hast  anointed,  that  in  Thee  they  may 
glorify  the  Father  and  His  only-begotten  Son,  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Aug.  26, 
1889. 

draper  for  tfje  propagation  of  tty  JFattI) 

OH0LY  Spirit,  spirit  of  truth,  come  into  our  hearts ; 

shed  the  brightness  of  Thy  light  on  all  nations, 
that  they  may  be  one  in  faith  and  pleasing  to  Thee. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  July  31, 
1897. 

^Ejaculation 


ACRED  Heart  of  Jesus,  Thy  kingdom  come! 
Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  May  4, 1906. 


Proper  for  Benefactors 

EWARD,  O Lord,  with  eternal  life  all  those  who 
do  us  good  for  Thy  name’s  sake.  Amen. 
Indulgence  of  50  days,  twice  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Dec.  17, 
1892. 

Prapers  to  implore  Peace 

Ant . IVE  peace,  O Lord,  in  our  days;  for  there  is 
KG}  none  other  that  fighteth  for  us,  but  only 
Thou,  our  God. 

V.  Peace  be  in  Thy  strength,  O Lord! 

/?.  And  plenty  in  Thy  strong  places. 


447 


THE  HOLY  HOUR 
Let  u$  pray 

OGOD,  from  Whom  proceed  all  holy  desires,  all 
right  counsels  and  just  works,  grant  unto  us,  Thy 
servants,  that  peace  which  the  world  can  not  give, 
that  our  hearts  may  be  devoted  to  Thy  service,  and  that, 
delivered  from  the  fear  of  our  enemies,  we  may  pass 
our  time  in  peace  under  Thy  protection.  Through 
Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  ioo  days,  each  time.  — Pius  IX,  May  i85 
1848. 


Cbougbts  anb  Bffections  on  tbe 
passion  of  ©nr  Xorb 

y^>fOOD  and  merciful  Jesus,  my  blessed  Saviour! 

What  a world  of  anguish  pierced  Thy  sacred 
Heart,  what  a flood  of  bitterness  deluged  Thy  soul, 
what  a torrent  of  humiliation  overwhelmed  Thee  in  Thy 
passion,  from  Gethsemani  to  Calvary! 

When  I contemplate  Thee  in  Thy  bitter  passion, 
looking  at  my  crucifix,  and  reflecting  on  all  Thy  suffer- 
ings of  soul  and  body  — on  Thy  mental  anguish  and 
dereliction;  on  Thy  agony  in  the  garden ; Thy  betrayal 
by  Judas;  the  rudeness  of  the  soldiers  dragging  and 
striking  Thee  and  spitting  in  Thy  face ; Thy  contemptu- 
ous treatment  at  the  tribunal  of  the  haughty  high  priests 
Annas  and  Caiphas;  Thy  shameful  mockery  and  hu- 
miliation at  the  court  of  Herod,  where  Thou  wert 
treated  as  a fool;  the  cruel  scourging  and  crowning 
with  thorns,  which  made  Thee  so  pitiable  in  appear- 
ance, as  to  cause  even  the  Roman  governor  to  exclaim, 
“ Ecce  Homo  ! ” and  the  Royal  Psalmist  to  lament  in 
prophetic  vision,  “ I am  a worm  and  no  man,  the  re- 
proach of  men  and  the  outcast  of  the  people ; ” the 
derisive  yells  and  the  brutal  cry  of  the  frenzied  and 
bloodthirsty  rabble,  “ Crucify  Him!  ” the  carrying  of 
the  heavy  cross  in  Thy  enfeebled  condition;  the  pain- 
ful meeting  with  Thy  sorrowful  Mother,  and  at  length 
the  dreadful  crucifixion  between  two  thieves  and  the 
hours  of  suffering  on  Calvary,  which  ended  in  Thy  death 
amid  the  awful  gloom  and  convulsive  desolation  of 
nature  — reflecting  upon  all  these  pains  and  torments, 
insults  and  outrages,  to  which  Thou  wert  subjected  in 
Thy  passion,  I bow  my  head  in  shame  and  sorrow  on 
account  of  my  many  sins,  and  deeply  regret  my  self- 
indulgence  and  pride,  which  have  led  me  so  often  to 
abuse  Thy  graces,  to  forget  Thy  love,  and  to  wound 
Thy  sacred  Heart. 


448 


THE  PASSION  OF  OUR  LORD 


449 

O King  of  glory,  Jesus,  my  Saviour,  what  marvelous 
virtue  Thou  dost  display  in  this  flood  of  sorrows,  suffer- 
ings, and  humiliations,  which  overwhelmed  Thy  Heart ! 
What  meekness,  what  resignation,  what  patience,  what 
charity!  Thou  dost  pray  for  those  who  outrage  Thee. 
Thou  offerest  Thy  sufferings  for  those  who  persecute 
and  afflict  Thee. 

How  unlike  I am  to  Thee,  my  divine  Model!  How 
great  is  the  change  that  must  be  effected  in  me,  if  I 
wish  to  be  Thy  true  disciple  and  to  bear  a resemblance 
to  Thee!  In  all  sincerity,  however,  I pray:  “ Jesus, 
meek  and  humble  of  heart,  make  my  heart  like  unto 
Thine.”  How  different  a rule  of  life,  how  great  a re- 
form of  conduct,  is  required  of  me  before  I shall  be  able 
to  say  with  the  Apostle:  “ I live,  now  not  I,  but  Christ 
liveth  in  me.”  How  unwilling  I am  to  bear  the  slightest 
pain!  How  I shrink  from  the  lightest  cross!  How  im- 
patient I am  in  sufferings,  disappointments,  and  contra- 
dictions! And  yet  the  Holy  Spirit  tells  us,  “ Jesus 
Christ  suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  example,  that  we 
should  follow  His  steps;”  and  again,  “All  that  will 
live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer.” 

How  the  apostles,  the  martyrs,  and  all  the  saints  have 
suffered!  But  they  entered  with  firm  tread  the  grotto 
of  the  agony  and  stood  bravely  by  the  cross.  They  re- 
joiced in  suffering  and  persecution,  because  they  be- 
came thereby  more  like  to  Christ;  they  bore  in  mind 
that  great  and  abundant  merit  is  attached  to  patient 
endurance  of  trials;  they  remembered  that  those  who 
suffer  with  Christ,  those  who  tread  courageously  the 
royal  road  of  the  cross  to  Calvary,  shall  also  ascend  with 
Him  to  heaven  and  reign  with  Him  in  immortal  glory. 

Henceforth  I shall  look  upon  pains  and  sufferings 
and  humiliations  as  blessings  sent  me  from  heaven  as 
a means  to  make  me  become  more  Christlike,  to  atone 
for  my  sins,  to  wean  me  from  the  love  of  self  and  the 
gratification  of  my  passions,  to  teach  me  the  vanities 
of  the  world,  to  lead  me  to  greater  perfection  — in  a 
word,  to  make  me  a saint.  I will  remember  my  Sa- 
viour’s words:  “ If  any  man  will  come  after  Me,  let 


450  THE  PASSION  OF  OUR  LORD 

him  deny  himself,  take  up  his  cross  daily , and  follow 
Me.”  (Luke  ix.  23.) 

I will  accept  with  resignation  and  bear  with  patience 
every  cross  that  comes  to  me,  mindful  of  the  Apostle’s 
words,  “We  know  that  to  them  that  love  God  all  things 
work  together  unto  good.”  (Rom.  viii.  28.)  Every 
pain  may  help  us  to  shorten  our  purgatory ; every  pain, 
moreover,  is  a means  of  merit  and  reparation  when  it  is 
met  in  the  spirit  of  our  Blessed  Saviour,  when  it  is  ac- 
cepted in  union  with  His  sufferings  and  endured  for 
His  sake  on  behalf  of  souls  for  which  He  died. 

O Jesus,  I adore  Thee  carrying  with  love  for  us  the 
cross  prepared  for  Thee  by  Thy  Father,  and  we  beg 
of  Thee,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy  and  sor- 
rowful Mother,  patience  and  resignation  in  the  trials  of 
this  life. 

Divine  Jesus,  we  adore  Thee  in  the  unfathomable 
debasements  of  Thy  passion  and  of  Thy  presence  on 
the  altar.  We  adore  Thee,  O loving  King,  overwhelmed 
with  insults  both  in  Thy  passion  and  in  the  sacred  Host ! 
we  beg  of  Thee,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy 
and  sorrowful  Mother,  the  penitential  spirit,  the  spirit 
of  humility,  obedience,  and  sacrifice,  the  grace  of  mor- 
tifying our  pride  and  self-love.  Heart  of  Jesus, 
wounded  by  my  infidelities,  forgive  me  my  sins.  I 
am  sorry  for  having  offended  Thee,  because  Thou  art 
infinitely  good.  Sin  displeases  Thee;  I will  not  sin 
again. 

Sweet  Heart  of  Jesus,  be  my  love!  Thy  kingdom 
come!  Mayest  Thou  reign  in  all  hearts!  Be  Thou  the 
sole  Master  of  all  that  I am  and  have!  May  I live 
henceforth  only  to  love  Thee  and  to  serve  Thee! 

“ Master,  go  on,  and  I will  follow  Thee 
To  the  last  gasp  with  truth  and  loyalty.” 


THE  PASSION  OF  OUR  LORD 


45i 


$teps  of  tfje  passion 

St.  Alphonsus  Liguori 

/T\Y  SWEETEST  Jesus,  Who,  while  praying  in  the 
garden,  didst  sweat  blood,  wast  in  agony,  and 
didst  suffer  a sorrow  so  great  as  would  suffice  to  cause 
Thee  death,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  O Lord,  have  mercy  on  us; 
have  mercy  on  the  poor  souls  in  purgatory! 

©Y  sweetest  Jesus,  Who  wast  betrayed  by  Judas 
with  a kiss,  and  delivered  over  into  the  hands  of 
Thine  enemies,  and  then  wast  taken  prisoner  by  them, 
and  bound,  and  abandoned  by  Thy  disciples,  have  mercy 
on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

/TiY  sweetest  Jesus,  declared  by  the  council  of  the 
,\l/,  Jews  guilty  of  death,  and  in  the  house  of  Caiphas 
blindfolded  with  a piece  of  cloth,  and  then  buffeted, 
spat  upon,  and  derided,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

^Y  sweetest  Jesus,  led  away  as  a malefactor  to 
Pilate,  and  then  turned  into  ridicule  by  Herod, 
and  treated  as  a madman,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

QY  sweetest  Jesus,  stripped  of  Thy  garments, 
bound  to  the  pillar,  and  so  cruelly  scourged,  have 
mercy  on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

/TvY  sweetest  Jesus,  crowned  with  thorns,  covered 
with  a red  mantle,  buffeted,  and  in  mockery 
saluted  as  king  of  the  Jews,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

f^TVY  sweetest  Jesus,  rejected  by  the  Jews,  placed 
lower  than  Barabbas,  and  then  unjustly  con- 
demned by  Pilate  to  die  upon  a cross,  have  mercy  on 
us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 


452 


THE  PASSION  OF  OUR  LORD 


/TvY  sweetest  Jesus,  laden  with  the  wood  of  the 
f\l/t  cross,  and  like  an  innocent  lamb  led  away  unto 
death,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

sweetest  Jesus,  nailed  to  the  cross  between 
two  thieves,  ridiculed  and  blasphemed,  and  for 
three  hours  suffering  an  agony  of  the  most  horrible  tor- 
ments, have  mercy  on  us. 

R . Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

/T|Y  sweetest  Jesus,  dead  upon  the  cross,  in  sight 
of  Thy  holy  Mother,  transfixed  with  a spear  in 
Thy  side,  from  whence  there  issued  forth  blood  and 
water,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

^Y  sweetest  Jesus,  taken  down  from  the  cross  and 
placed  in  the  bosom  of  Thine  afflicted  Mother, 
have  mercy  on  us. 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

/TAY  sweetest  Jesus,  Who,  torn  with  stripes  and 
bearing  the  marks  of  Thy  five  wounds,  wast  laid 
in  the  sepulcher,  have  mercy  on  us. 

R . Have  mercy  on  us,  etc. 

V . Surely  He  hath  borne  our  infirmities. 

R.  And  He  hath  carried  our  sorrows. 


Let  us  pray 

OG0D,  Who,  for  the  redemption  of  the  world,  didst 
will  to  be  bom,  to  be  circumcised,  rejected  by  the 
Jews,  betrayed  by  the  traitor  Judas  with  a kiss,  bound 
with  cords,  led  as  an  innocent  lamb  to  the  sacrifice, 
and  with  so  many  insults  taken  before  Annas,  Caiphas, 
Pilate,  and  Herod,  accused  by  false  witnesses,  beaten 
with  scourges  and  buffetings,  overwhelmed  with  igno- 
minies, spat  upon,  crowned  with  thorns,  smitten  with 
the  reed,  blindfolded,  stripped  of  Thy  garments, 
fastened  with  nails  to  the  cross,  lifted  up  on  the  cross, 
numbered  amongst  thieves,  drenched  with  gall  and 


THE  PASSION  OF  OUR  LORD 


453 


vinegar,  and  wounded  with  the  spear  — do  Thou,  Lord, 
by  these  sacred  pains,  which  I,  unworthy  as  I am,  dare 
to  venerate,  and  by  Thy  holy  cross  and  death,  deliver 
me  from  the  pains  of  hell,  and  vouchsafe  to  conduct 
me  whither  Thou  didst  conduct  the  thief  that  was 
crucified  with  Thee : Thou  Who  livest  and  reignest  with 
the  Father  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  world  without  end. 

Amen. 


lEjarulatton 

'ynr'DORAMUS  te,  sanc- 
tissime  D omine 
Jesu  Christe,  benedicimus 
tibi ; quia  per  sanctam  cru- 
cem  tuam  redemisti  mun- 
dum. 


VjTT'E  ADORE 
VJcAi  most  holy 


Thee, 
Lord 

Jesus  Christ,  we  bless 
Thee;  because  by  Thy 
holy  cross  Thou  hast  re- 
deemed the  world. 


Indulgence  of  ioo  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March 
4,  1882. 

I^gmn  to  tfj z Sacreb  f^eart1 


“ Be  this  our  life's  one  aim 
To  labor  for  the  glory  of  Thy  name  " 

O SACRED  Heart,  what  shall  I render  Thee 
For  all  the  gifts  Thou  hast  bestowed  on  me  ? 
O Heart  of  God,  Thou  seem’st  but  to  implore 
That  I should  love  Thee  daily  more  and  more. 


O Heart,  Whose  reign  began  upon  the  tree 
Where  Thou  didst  triumph  by  humility; 

Oh,  grant  I may  Thy  hidden  ways  adore 
And  know  and  love  Thee  daily  more  and  more. 


O Sacred  Heart,  I long,  I long  to  love 

E’en  as  the  saints  with  Thee  in  heaven  above, 

O dearest  Heart,  this  grace  then  I implore, 

That  I may  love  Thee  daily,  hourly,  more. 

1 This  hymn  was  set  to  music  by  the  late  Rev.  Father  W. 
Maher,  S.J.,  and  published  by  Messrs.  Burns  and  Oates. 
From  The  Voice  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 


THE  PASSION  OF  OUR  LORD 


454 

O Heart  of  Jesus,  come  and  live  in  me 

That  with  Thy  love  my  heart  consumed  may  be ; 

O Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  I implore 

That  I may  love  Thee  daily  more  and  more. 

O Sacred  Heart,  be  this  our  life’s  one  aim; 

To  labor  for  the  glory  of  Thy  name. 

O dearest  Heart,  this  grace  we  Thee  implore: 

That  all  the  world  may  know  and  love  Thee  more. 

forget  ffile  Wot 

BORGET  Me  not!  upon  the  silent  altar 

They  pass  Me  by  and  leave  Me  all  alone ; 
They’ve  love  enough  for  all,  for  every  other, 

For  Me  — their  God  — their  hearts  are  cold  as  stone. 


Forget  Me  not!  for  oh!  I’m  ever  waiting 

For  friends  who  will  My  bitter  wrongs  atone : 
Forget  Me  not!  for  I am  ever  craving 

Devoted  hearts  who’ll  make  My  woes  their  own. 

Forget  Me  not  when  desolation  tempts  thee 
To  plunge  into  the  world’s  tempestuous  sea; 
Remember  how  the  sin-laden  and  weary 
My  heart  invited,  saying:  " Come  to  Me .” 


Forget  not,  lest  one  day  I thus  reproach  thee : 

“ When  I came  in  thou  gavest  Me  no  kiss,” 
And  oh!  no  thought  in  bitterness  can  equal 
The  self-reproachful  agony  of  this. 


Forget  not  in  the  weariness  of  sorrow, 

There  is  a home  for  thee  — thy  Saviour’s  breast ; 

Be  comforted  — the  day  is  ever  nearing 

When  there  thou’lt  find  thy  long  — thy  endless  rest. 

— Ibid. 


AUDETUR  Jesus 
Christus.  In  sae- 

cula. 


RAISED  be  Jesus 
Christ.  For  ever- 
more. 


THE  PASSION  OF  OUR  LORD 


455 


?^gm n to  t \)t  JSlegscb  Sacrament 

J7ESUS!  my  Lord,  my  God,  my  all! 

J How  can  I love  Thee  as  I ought  ? 

And  how  revere  this  wondrous  gift, 

So  far  surpassing  hope  or  thought  ? 

Sweet  Sacrament!  we  Thee  adore! 

Oh,  make  us  love  Thee  more  and  more! 

Had  I but  Mary’s  sinless  heart 

To  love  Thee  with,  my  dearest  King, 

Oh,  with  what  bursts  of  fervent  praise 
Thy  goodness,  Jesus,  would  I sing! 

Sweet  Sacrament!  we  Thee  adore! 

Oh,  make  us  love  Thee  more  and  more! 

Ah,  see!  within  a creature’s  hand 
The  vast  Creator  deigns  to  be, 

Reposing,  infant-like,  as  though 
On  Joseph’s  arm,  or  Mary’s  knee. 

Sweet. Sacrament!  we  Thee  adore! 

Oh,  make  us  love  Thee  more  and  more! 

Thy  body,  soul,  and  Godhead,  all! 

O mystery  of  love  divine! 

I cannot  compass  all  I have, 

For  all  Thou  hast  and  art  are  mine! 

Sweet  Sacrament!  we  Thee  adore! 

Oh,  make  us  love  Thee  more  and  more! 

Sound,  sound  His  praises  higher  still, 

And  come,  ye  angels,  to  our  aid, 

’Tis  God!  ’tis  God!  the  very  God, 

Whose  power  both  man  and  angels  made. 

Sweet  Sacrament!  we  Thee  adore! 

Oh,  make  us  love  Thee  more  and  more! 

— Fr.  Faber. 


Ube  flD^stertes  of  tbe  ibols  IRosars 

SHje  JFruit  of  lEari)  Jfilgsterg 

Joyful  Mysteries . — Spirit  of  Holy  Joy 

1.  Annunciation  ....  Humility. 

2.  Visitation Fraternal  Charity. 

3.  Nativity Spirit  of  Poverty. 

4.  Presentation  . . . . Obedience ; Purity. 

5.  Jesus  with  the  Doctors  Love  of  Jesus  and  de- 

votedness to  the  duties 
of  our  state  of  life. 


Sorrowful  Mysteries . — Spirit  of  Compassion , Contri- 
tiony  and  Reparation 


1.  Agony Fervor  in  Prayer  and 

Resignation  to  the  will 
of  God. 

2.  Scourging Penance,  and  especially 


Mortification  of  the 
senses. 

Moral  Courage. 

Patience. 

Self-sacrifice  for  God  and 
for  our  Neighbor;  for- 
giveness of  injuries. 


3.  Crowning  with  Thoms  . 

4.  Carriage  of  the  Cross  . 

5.  Crucifixion 


Glorious  Mysteries . — Spirit  of  Faith  and  Adoration 


1.  Resurrection  . . . . 

2.  Ascension 

3.  Descent  of  the  Holy 

Ghost 

4.  Assumption  . . . . 

5.  Coronation  of  the 

Blessed  Virgin  Mary 


Faith. 

Hope. 

Love  and  Zeal  for  Souls. 
Filial  Devotion  to  Mary. 

Perseverance. 


A pious  custom  assigns  the  different  parts  of  the 
Rosary  to  different  days  of  the  week,  as  follows: 

1.  The  Joyful  Mysteries  are  honored  on  Mondays 
456 


THE  HOLY  ROSARY 


457 

and  Thursdays  throughout  the  year,  and  on  all  Sun- 
days from  the  first  of  Advent  to  the  first  of  Lent. 

2.  The  Sorrowful  Mysteries  are  honored  on  Tues- 
days and  Fridays  throughout  the  year,  and  on  Sundays 
of  Lent. 

3.  The  Glorious  Mysteries  are  honored  on  Wednes- 
days and  Saturdays  throughout  the  year,  and  on  all 
Sundays  from  Easter  to  Advent. 

Draper  to  St*  Joseph  for  the  October  Devotions 

Ordered  by  Pope  Leo  XIII  to  be  said  as  part  of  the 
Devotions  for  the  Month  of  October 
THEE,  O blessed  Joseph,  do  we  fly  in  our  tribu- 
lation,  and,  having  implored  the  help  of  thy  most 
holy  spouse , we  confidently  crave  thy  patronage  also . 
Through  that  charity  which  bound  thee  to  the  immacu- 
late virgin  Mother  of  God,  and  through  the  paternal 
love  with  which  thou  didst  embrace  the  child  Jesus, 
we  humbly  beseech  thee  graciously  to  regard  the  in- 
heritance which  Jesus  Christ  hath  purchased  by  His 
blood,  and  with  thy  power  and  strength  to  aid  us  in 
our  necessities. 

O most  watchful  guardian  of  the  Divine  Family,  de- 
fend the  chosen  children  of  Jesus  Christ;  O most  lov- 
ing father,  ward  off  from  us  every  contagion  of  error 
and  corrupting  influence;  O our  most  mighty  protec- 
tor, be  propitious  to  us  and  from  heaven  assist  us  in 
this  our  struggle  with  the  power  of  darkness;  and,  as 
once  thou  didst  rescue  the  child  Jesus  from  deadly 
peril,  so  now  protect  God’s  holy  Church  from  the  snares 
of  the  enemy  and  from  all  adversity:  shield,  too,  each 
one  of  us  by  thy  constant  protection,  so  that,  supported 
by  thine  example  and  thine  aid,  we  may  be  able  to  live 
piously,  to  die  holily,  and  to  obtain  eternal  happiness  in 
heaven.  Amen. 

Indulgences:  i.  Seven  years  and  seven  quarantines,  if 
said  after  the  Rosary  in  October,  ii.  300  days,  once  a day, 
at  other  times  (and  in  this  case  the  words  in  italics  are 
omitted).  — Leo  XIII,  Enc.,  August  15,  1889;  Indul.  Sep- 
tember 21,  1889.  — The  Raccolta  (1910  Edition). 


458 


THE  HOLY  ROSARY 
Enbocatton  to  Sbt  Jfosepi) 

^SRANT,  O holy  Joseph,  that,  ever  secure  under  thy 
VS)  protection,  we  may  pass  our  lives  without  guilt. 
or 

'‘lp^ELP  us,  Joseph,  in  our  earthly  strife; 

,JL£  Ever  to  lead  a pure  and  blameless  life. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  March 
18,  1882. 

lEjaculatton 

BT.  JOSEPH,  foster-father  of  Our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  true  spouse  of  Mary  ever  virgin,  pray 
for  us. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  May  15, 
1891. 


^rager  to  Sit.  Josepfj,  patron  of  tije  Hntbersardljxircl) 

O GLORIOUS  St.  Joseph,  chosen  by  God  to  be  the 
reputed  father  of  Jesus,  the  most  pure  spouse  of 
Mary  ever  virgin,  and  the  head  of  the  Holy  Family,  and 
then  elected  by  the  Vicar  of  Christ  to  be  the  heavenly 
patron  and  protector  of  the  Church  founded  by  Jesus 
Christ;  with  the  greatest  confidence  I implore  at  this 
time  thy  powerful  aid  for  the  entire  Church  Militant. 
Protect  in  a special  manner  with  thy  truly  paternal  love 
the  Supreme  Pontiff  and  all  the  bishops  and  priests 
united  to  the  See  of  St.  Peter.  Defend  all  those  who 
labor  for  souls  in  the  midst  of  the  afflictions  and  tribu- 
lations of  this  life,  and  obtain  the  willing  submission 
of  every  nation  throughout  the  world  to  the  Church, 
the  necessary  means  of  salvation  for  all. 

O dearest  St.  Joseph,  be  pleased  to  accept  the  con- 
secration which  I make  to  thee  of  myself.  I dedicate 
myself  entirely  to  thee  that  thou  mayest  ever  be  my 
father,  my  protector,  and  my  guide  in  the  way  of  sal- 
vation. Obtain  for  me  great  purity  of  heart  and  a fer- 
vent love  of  the  interior  life.  Grant  that  after  thy 
example  all  my  actions  may  be  directed  to  the  greater 


THE  EUCHARISTIC  ROSARY 


459 


glory  of  God,  in  union  with  the  divine  Heart  of  Jesus 
and  the  immaculate  heart  of  Mary,  and  with  thee. 
Finally,  pray  for  me  that  I may  be  able  to  share  in  the 
peace  and  joy  of  thy  most  holy  death.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  July  18, 

1885. 


Ube  Bucbaristtc  IRosars 

or 

2Tfje  Kecttatian  of  tfje  f^alg  Blasatg  t'n  tfje  presence 
of  tfje  BIesseIj  Sacrament 


HE  Holy  Rosary,  on  account  of  the  meditations  on  the 
mysteries  in  the  life  of  Our  Lord  and  the  Blessed  Vir- 
gin, which  we  make  while  reciting  it,  is  one  of  the  most 
useful  devotions  for  the  Hour  of  Adoration. 

The  Eucharistic  Rosary  is  especially  recommended  for 
this  purpose,  as  it  unites  meditation  on  the  sacred  mysteries 
of  the  Rosary  with  reflections  on  the  life  of  Our  Lord  in  the 
Holy  Eucharist.  The  Rosary  is  one  of  the  most  admirable 
and  beneficial  devotions  practised  in  the  Catholic  Church. 
Its  method  and  design  are  stated  to  have  been  revealed  to 
St.  Dominic  by  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  who  admonished 
him  to  preach  it  with  all  the  fervor  of  his  soul  as  a singularly 
efficacious  remedy  for  the  overthrow  of  heresy  and  the  ex- 
tirpation of  vice.  Our  Lady  said  to  him:  “ Thou  shalt  in- 
form my  people  that  it  is  a devotion  most  acceptable  to  my 
Son  and  to  me.”  It  is  adapted  alike  to  the  learned  and 
ignorant,  to  the  cloister  and  the  world,  and  to  every  capacity, 
the  words  being  so  easy  that  the  most  illiterate  may  learn 
them,  and  the  mysteries  so  sublime  as  to  afford  matter  of 
contemplation  and  entertainment  to  the  highest  intellects. 
No  Christian  could  slight  it  without  irreverence,  or  neglect 
its  frequent  use  without  serious  detriment  to  piety.  The 
numerous  indulgences  attached  to  the  recitation  of  the 
Rosary  make  this  form  of  devotion  a powerful  instrument 
for  the  relief  of  the  poor  souls  in  purgatory. 

The  whole  Rosary  is  composed  of  fifteen  decades  (the 
chaplet  or  ordinary  beads  containing  five  decades) ; each  of 
the  fifteen  decades  is  recited  in  honor  of  a mystery  of  Our 
Lord’s  life  and  that  of  His  blessed  Mother,  beginning  with 
the  Annunciation,  or  Christ’s  incarnation,  and  ending  with 
Mary’s  Coronation  in  heaven. 


THE  EUCHARISTIC  ROSARY 


460 

A decade  consists  of  one  Our  Father , ten  Hail  Marys , and 
a Glory  be  to  the  Father.  While  reciting  a decade,  let  faith 
place  before  your  mind  the  mystery  honored,  and  pray  that 
the  virtue  it  particularly  teaches  may  be  impressed  on  your 
heart.  It  is  a pious  custom  to  recite  a chaplet,  that  is,  five 
decades  of  the  beads,  every  day.  If  you  persevere  in  this 
pious  practice,  you  will  increase  daily  in  the  love  of  Jesus 
and  Mary,  and  consequently  in  Christian  perfection. 

I 

Zhc  Sogful  /Ibgsteriee 
Wqz  Jtrst  Sogful  JMggterg 
The  Annunciation 

O JESUS,  bom  of  Thy  Father  from  all  eternity; 

filled  with  an  incomprehensible  love  for  men, 
Thou  didst  become  man  in  the  womb  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary  through  the  operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
humbling  Thyself  to  such  a degree  as  to  take  the  form 
of  a servant.  The  same  charity  hath  prompted  Thee 
to  perpetuate,  in  the  Eucharist,  this  mystery  of  anni- 
hilation and  love,  even  to  improve  on  it  by  becoming 
the  food  of  our  souls. 

Divine  Jesus,  we  adore  Thee  in  these  unfathomable 
debasements,  and  we  beg  of  Thee,  through  the  inter- 
cession of  Thy  holy  Mother,  a deep  and  heart-felt 
humility. 

2Ef)e  %>zzoxit)  3ogful  fHgsterg 

The  Visitation 

*T"\IVINE  Saviour,  from  the  womb  of  Mary,  wherein 
Thou  didst  become  incarnate,  Thou  breathest 
forth  sanctity  into  John  the  Baptist  and  benediction 
upon  the  whole  house  of  Elizabeth.  From  the  Host 
wherein  Thou  dwellest,  Thou  spreadest  the  influence 
of  Thy  grace  all  over  the  world  and  Thy  love  through- 
out the  whole  Church. 

O divine  Jesus,  full  of  love  and  kindness,  we  adore 
Thee,  and  we  beg  of  Thee  through  the  intercession  of 
Thy  holy  Mother,  perfect  charity  toward  our  neighbor. 


THE  EUCHARISTIC  ROSARY 


461 


E\ )z  2Ef)ttb  3ogful  flflgstetg 

The  Nativity  of  Our  Lord 


OKING  of  kings,  poor  indeed,  yet  most  lovely  in 
the  crib  of  Bethlehem,  Thou  callest  the  simple 
and  the  poor  to  be  Thy  first  adorers : poorer  and  no  less 
amiable  to  the  eyes  of  faith  in  the  Sacrament  of  Thy 
love,  Thou  art  still  delighted  to  see  around  Thy  person 
the  humble  and  the  little. 

O Jesus,  in  Thy  destitution  we  adore  Thee,  to  Whom 
belong  all  the  treasures  of  the  Godhead,  and  we  beg 
of  Thee,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy  Mother, 
detachment  from  the  goods  of  this  world. 

3lj e jfauttfj  Sagful  fflgsterg 
The  Presentation  of  Our  Lord  in  the  Temple 
AMB  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the 


world,  Thou  offerest  Thyself  with  perfect  obedi- 


ence and  love  to  Thy  Father,  through  the  hands  of  the 
high  priest,  as  the  victim  that  is  to  be  immolated  on  the 
cross;  every  day  also  Thou  offerest  Thyself  upon  the 
altar  by  the  hands  of  the  priest,  with  the  same  obedi- 
ence and  love  as  our  victim  always  sacrificed  and 
always  living. 

O sweet  victim,  we  adore  Thee,  and  we  beg  of  Thee, 
through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy  Mother,  the  spirit 
of  obedience  and  sacrifice. 

3lje  jftftfj  Sagful  fHgsterg 

The  Finding  of  Our  Lord  in  the  Temple 

O JESUS,  Thou  withdrawest  and  leavest  Mary  and 
Joseph  in  tears  to  do  the  work  of  Thy  Father;  but 
Thou  fillest  them  with  joy  when  they  find  Thee  in  the 
midst  of  the  Doctors  amazed  at  Thy  knowledge  and 
wisdom.  Veiled  in  the  Eucharist,  Thou  impartest 
there  divine  teachings,  and  Thou  fillest  with  joy  those 
who  seek  Thee  with  their  whole  heart. 

O hidden  God,  we  adore  Thee,  and  we  beg  of  Thee, 


THE  EUCHARISTIC  ROSARY 


462 

through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy  Mother,  the  grace 
of  seeking  Thee  with  a lively  and  persevering  faith  in 
the  Sacrament  of  Thy  love. 

II 

fTbe  Sorrowful  flhyetexieB 
2Efj z jftTjst  Sorrowful  fSlgsterg 
The  Agony  of  Our  Lord  in  the  Garden  of  Olives 
^T^VIVINE  Saviour,  under  the  weight  of  sorrow  and 
sadness  caused  by  our  sins,  Thou  fallest,  bathed 
in  a sweat  of  blood,  and  Thou  endurest  a mortal  agony. 
In  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  also,  Thou  art  still  more 
humbled  and  annihilated  on  account  of  our  sins. 

We  adore  Thee  and  we  compassionate  Thy  agony  of 
suffering  in  the  Garden  of  Gethsemani  as  well  as  Thy 
agony  of  humiliation  in  the  Eucharist,  and  we  beg  of 
Thee,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy  Mother,  a 
heartfelt  sorrow  for  our  sins. 

©je  Second  Sortotoful  JHjjstrtg 

The  Flagellation 

OG00D  Jesus,  scourged  and  covered  with  wounds, 
the  sins  committed  by  men  against  the  holy  vir- 
tue of  purity  thus  torture  Thy  innocent  flesh;  and  in 
the  Blessed  Sacrament  impure  hearts  insult  Thee  by 
their  sacrilegious  communions. 

O thou  bloody  victim,  scourged  at  the  pillar,  patient 
victim  abused  in  the  Sacrament,  we  adore  Thee,  and 
we  beg  of  Thee,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy 
Mother,  the  grace  of  mortifying  our  senses. 

SEfjtrti  Sottotoful  fHgsterg 

The  Crowning  with  Thorns 

OKING  of  glory,  crowned  with  thorns  and  pro- 
claimed in  derision  king  of  the  Jews  by  brutal  sol- 
diers who  ignominiously  spit  upon  Thy  adorable  face, 


THE  EUCHARISTIC  ROSARY 


463 


Thou  fallest  a victim  to  the  sins  committed  by  pride ; 
in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  also  Thou  bearest  a crown  of 
ignominy  made  up  of  the  many  acts  of  irreverence, 
contempt,  hypocrisy,  and  vanity  committed  by  Chris- 
tians in  Thy  sanctuary. 

O loving  King!  overwhelmed  with  insults  both  in 
Thy  passion  and  in  the  sacred  Host,  we  adore  Thee, 
and  we  beg  of  Thee,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy 
holy  Mother,  the  grace  of  mortifying  our  self-love. 


jjourtjj  Satrotoful  JHggtetg 

The  Carrying  of  the  Cross 


URSES,  outrages,  ill-treatments,  anguish  of  heart, 


sufferings  of  all  kinds,  can  not  alter,  O dear  Re- 
deemer, the  mildness  and  patience  with  which  Thou 
carriest  Thy  heavy  cross;  with  like  sweetness  and 
patience  dost  Thou  bear  in  the  long  course  of  ages, 
doubts,  want  of  confidence,  murmurs,  insults,  and  dis- 
couragement on  the  part  of  Thy  children. 

O Jesus!  we  adore  Thee  carrying  with  love  the  cross 
prepared  for  Thee  by  Thy  Father,  and  we  beg  of  Thee, 
through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy  Mother,  patience 
in  the  trials  of  this  life. 

2Cfje  jFiftfj  Sorrotoful  fHgsterg 

The  Crucifixion  and  Death  of  Our  Lord 

OG00D  and  merciful  Saviour!  Thy  love,  more 
than  iron  nails,  keeps  Thee  riveted  to  the  cross, 
whereon  Thou  atonest  for  our  sins  in  the  midst  of  un- 
speakable torments.  We  find  Thee  also  riveted  by  the 
same  love  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  continuing 
Thy  sacrifice  to  the  end  of  ages  in  order  to  apply  to  us 
the  fruits  thereof. 

Sweet  Lamb,  perpetually  immolated  for  us,  we  adore 
Thee,  and  we  beg  of  Thee,  through  the  intercession  of 
Thy  holy  Mother,  such  a hatred  of  sin  as  will  make  us 
prefer  the  death  of  the  body  to  the  staining  of  the  soul. 


464 


THE  EUCHARISTIC  ROSARY 


in 

Gbe  ©lorlous  Arteries 
2Kje  jfttst  (glorious  fHgstetg 
The  Resurrection  of  Our  Lord 

O CHRIST  JESUS!  Thou  comest  forth  glorious 
from  the  tomb,  victorious  over  all  infernal  powers ; 
henceforth  sufferings  and  death  have  lost  their  empire 
over  Thy  glorious  humanity.  What  a consolation  for  us 
to  know  that,  though  confined  to  the  humble  condition 
of  Thy  Sacrament,  Thou  art  in  full  possession  of  the 
life,  joy,  and  glory  of  Thy  resurrection! 

We  adore  Thee,  O immortal  King  of  ages,  and  we 
beg  of  Thee,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy  holy 
Mother,  a lively  and  loving  faith  in  Thy  real  and  life- 
giving  presence  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 


3Tf) e Stconh  (glorious  fEggtrrg 

The  Ascension 

O DIVINE  Saviour!  Thy  triumph  in  this  mystery 
has  reached  its  perfection!  By  raising  Thyself 
up  to  heaven  through  Thy  own  power,  Thou  hast  taken 
possession  of  Thy  kingdom,  and  Thou  art  seated  at  the 
right  hand  of  Thy  Father  to  be  forever  the  joy  of  the 
angels  and  saints.  Every  day  also  without  quitting 
Thy  throne  Thou  comest  upon  our  altars,  under  the 
form  of  bread,  to  bring  us  a foretaste  of  the  heavenly 
beatitude. 

O Thou,  the  delight  of  pure  souls,  we  adore  Thee, 
and  we  beg  of  Thee,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy 
holy  Mother,  an  ardent  desire  of  possessing  Thee  here 
below  under  the  Eucharistic  veils,  and  to  possess  Thee 
in  heaven  in  the  splendor  of  Thy  glory. 


THE  EUCHARISTIC  ROSARY 


465 


2CI)£  9Tf)irtJ  (Glorious  fHgstcrg 
The  Coming  Down  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  the 
Apostles 

O JESUS,  scarcely  hadst  Thou  entered  into  Thy 
glory  at  the  right  hand  of  Thy  Father,  when  Thou 
didst  show  Thy  munificence  by  sending  forth  the  Holy 
Spirit  with  His  many  and  various  gifts  to  Thy  growing 
Church.  From  the  Eucharist,  as  if  from  another 
heaven,  wherein  Thou  hast  set  up  Thy  throne  of  love, 
Thou  impartest  to  souls  the  spirit  of  life  and  strength, 
and  Thou  kindlest  in  them  the  fire  of  Thy  divine  charity. 

O Jesus,  king  in  heaven,  king  also  in  the  Eucharist, 
we  adore  Thee,  and  we  beg  of  Thee,  through  the  inter- 
cession of  Thy  holy  Mother,  fidelity  to  grace  in  order 
to  reap  all  the  fruits  produced  in  the  souls  of  men  by 
the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

2Clj z jfcurtl}  (glorious  Jftggterg 

The  Death  and  Assumption  of  Mary 

O JESUS,  no  longer  canst  Thou  leave  here  below 
Thy  blessed  Mother:  already  she  heareth  Thy 
voice  calling  her,  and,  amid  the  transports  of  an  in- 
effable communion,  love  taketh  away  her  soul  from 
the  land  of  exile.  But  her  virginal  body,  like  that  of 
her  divine  Son,  must  not  know  corruption;  Thou 
raiseth  her  from  the  dead,  and,  brilliant  as  the  sun,  she 
soars  on  angels*  wings  to  the  seat  of  eternal  glory. 

O Jesus,  our  resurrection  and  our  life,  we  adore 
Thee,  and  we  pray  that,  through  the  intercession  of  Thy 
holy  Mother,  we  may  die  in  the  arms  of  her  who  is  also 
our  own  Mother,  after  having  received  in  a fervent 
communion  the  pledge  of  our  glorious  resurrection. 


z Jtftf)  ©lortotts  fHgsterg 
The  Crowning  of  Mary  in  Heaven 
^f^VlVINE  Son  of  Mary,  to  make  Thy  holy  Mother 
JLJ  partaker  of  Thy  own  glory,  Thou  hast  crowned 
her  queen  of  heaven  and  earth  and  appointed  her  our 


466  THE  BEADS  OF  THE  SACRED  HEART 

advocate  and  the  living  channel  of  Thy  graces.  From 
the  Eucharist,  not  less  than  from  heaven,  Thou  wiliest 
that  every  grace  shall  reach  us  through  her  maternal 
hands. 

O Jesus,  we  adore  Thee  in  Thy  unspeakable  glory, 
of  which  Thou  hast  made  Thy  Mother  partake  with 
Thee,  and  we  beg  of  Thee,  through  her  intercession,  a 
great  confidence  in  her  powerful  protection  and  great 
earnestness  in  imitating  her  virtues,  in  particular  her 
purity,  humility,  and  fidelity  to  grace. 


Ube  Beabs  of  tbe  Sacreb  Ibeart 

31  Spiritual  treasure 

^^HE  object  of  these  little  beads  is  to  furnish  us  with 
an  easy  means  of  offering,  in  a very  short  time,  a 
most  pleasing  homage  to  the  Hearts  of  Jesus  and  Mary, 
and  of  gaining  for  ourselves  great  spiritual  favors. 
The  prayers  that  compose  it  are  themselves  excellent; 
but  they  are  made  still  more  excellent  and  precious  by 
the  indulgences  attached  to  them. 


fEattner  of  Paging  tlje  ILtttle  33caUs 

1.  At  the  beginning  and  at  the  end  devoutly  make 
the  Sign  of  the  Cross. 

Indulgence  of  50  days,  each  time  it  is  made.  — Pius 
IX,  July  28,  1863. 

2.  Ask  the  light  and  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost  through 
the  intercession  of  your  guardian  angel : 


31 


NGEL  of  God,  my  guardian  dear, 

To  whom  His  love  commits  me  here, 

Ever  this  day  be  at  my  side, 

To  light  and  guard,  to  rule  and  guide.  Amen. 


Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  A plenary  indul- 
gence once  a month. — Pius  VI,  Oct.  2,  1795,  and  June  11, 
1796;  Pius  VII,  May  15,  1821. 


THE  BEADS  OF  THE  SACRED  HEART  467 

3.  On  the  first  large  grain  make  the  following 
offering: 

y^fTERNAL  Father,  I offer  Thee  the  precious  blood 
V_4  of  Jesus  in  satisfaction  for  my  sins,  and  for  the 
wants  of  the  Church. 

Indulgence  of  100  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VII,  Sept.  22, 
1817. 

4.  On  the  first  small  grain  which  follows  make  an  act 
of  faith ; on  the  second  an  act  of  hope ; on  the  third  an 
act  of  charity.  These  acts  may  be  made  thus: 

GOD,  I believe  in  Thee  because  Thou  art 
f\l/,  Truth  itself. 

My  God,  I hope  in  Thee  because  Thou  art  kind  and 
merciful  and  faithful  to  Thy  promises. 

My  God,  I love  Thee  because  Thou  art  infinitely  good 
and  I am  sorry  for  having  offended  Thee. 

Indulgence  of  seven  years  and  seven  quarantines  each 
time.  Plenary  once  a month.  — Benedict  XIV,  Jan.  28,  1 756. 

5.  On  each  of  the  large  grains  which  precede  the 
decades,  say: 

JVESUS,  meek  and  humble  of  heart,  make  my  heart 
J like  unto  Thine. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  Sept.  15, 
1905. 

6.  On  each  of  the  small  grains  of  the  decades  are  to 
be  said  the  following  invocations. 

BWEETEST  Heart  of  Jesus!  I implore 

That  I may  ever  love  Thee  more  and  more. 
Sweet  heart  of  Mary,  be  my  salvation. 

Indulgence  of  300  days  for  each  recital  of  each  of  these 
invocations.  — Pius  IX,  Nov.  26,  1876,  and  Sept.  30,  1852. 


7.  Finish  the  Beads  or  Rosary  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
by  invoking  the  three  holy  names,  which  we  should 
often  have  on  our  lips  during  life  and  at  death.  On 


468  THE  BEADS  OF  THE  SACRED  HEART 

returning  then  to  the  three  small  grains  at  which  you 
began,  make  the  following  invocations: 

^7ESUS,  Mary,  and  Joseph!  I give  you  my  heart  and 
g)  my  soul. 

Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph!  assist  me  in  my  last 
agony. 

Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph!  may  I breathe  forth  my 
soul  in  peace  with  you. 

Indulgence  of  300  days.  — Pius  VII,  August  26,  1814. 
The  indulgences  of  this  little  chaplet  are  independent  of 
one  another;  hence,  if  at  any  time  we  should  happen  not  to 
say  the  whole  of  the  Beads,  we  do  not  lose  all  the  indulgences 
— we  gain  those  attached  to  the  part  we  say ; furthermore, 
all  the  indulgences  of  these  little  Beads  are  applicable  to  the 
holy  souls  in  purgatory. 


Cbe  Stations  of  tbe  Cross 

•JPrcparatDtg  ^fJrager 

OG00D  and  merciful  Jesus,  with  a contrite  heart 
and  penitent  spirit  I purpose  now  to  perform  this 
devotion  in  honor  of  Thy  bitter  passion  and  death.  I 
adore  Thee  most  humbly  as  my  Lord  and  my  God. 
I thank  Thee  most  heartily,  my  divine  Saviour,  for  the 
infinite  love  wherewith  Thou  didst  make  the  painful 
journey  to  Calvary  for  me,  a wretched  sinner,  and  didst 
die  upon  the  cross  for  my  salvation.  I am  truly  sorry 
for  all  my  sins,  because  by  them  I have  offended  Thee, 
Who  art  infinitely  good.  I detest  them  and  I am  re- 
solved to  amend  my  life.  Grant  that  I may  gain  all 
the  indulgences  which  are  attached  to  this  devotion, 
and  since  Thou  hast  promised  to  draw  all  things  to 
Thyself,  draw  my  heart  and  my  love  to  Thee,  that  I 
may  live  and  die  in  union  with  Thee.  Amen. 

jFtrst  Station 

Jesus  Is  Condemned  to  Death 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 

77ESUS,  most  innocent  and  perfectly  sinless,  was  con- 
J demned  to  death,  and,  moreover,  to  the  most  igno- 
minious death  of  the  cross.  To  remain  a friend  of 
Caesar,  Pilate  delivered  Him  into  the  hands  of  His 
enemies.  A fearful  crime  — to  condemn  Innocence  to 
death,  and  to  offend  God  in  order  not  to  displease  men! 

Prayer 

O INNOCENT  Jesus,  having  sinned,  I am  guilty  of 
eternal  death;  but  that  I might  live  Thou  dost 
willingly  accept  the  unjust  sentence  of  death.  For 
469 


470  THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS 


whom,  then,  shall  I henceforth  live,  if  not  for  Thee,  my 
Lord?  Should  I desire  to  please  men,  I could  not  be 
Thy  servant.  Let  me,  therefore,  rather  displease  men 
and  all  the  world  than  not  please  Thee,  O my  Jesus. 
Our  Father,  etc.;  Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R . Have  mercy  on  us! 


Secant)  Station 

Jesus  Carries  His  Cross 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 


/’/IT* HEN  our  divine  Saviour  beheld  the  cross,  He 
UlA*  stretched  out  His  bleeding  arms  toward  it  with 
eager  desire,  lovingly  embraced  it,  tenderly  kissed  it, 
and,  placing  it  on  His  bruised  shoulders,  joyfully  carried 
it,  although  He  was  worn  and  weary  unto  death. 


Prayer 

OMY  Jesus,  I can  not  be  Thy  friend  and  follower  if 
I refuse  to  carry  the  cross.  O dearly  beloved 
cross!  I embrace  thee,  I kiss  thee,  I joyfully  accept 
thee  from  the  hands  of  my  God.  Far  be  it  from  me  to 
glory  in  anything,  save  in  the  cross  of  my  Redeemer. 
By  it  the  world  shall  be  crucified  to  me  and  I to  the 
world,  that  I may  be  Thine,  O Jesus,  for  ever. 

Our  Father,  etc.;  Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 

2Tfjttb  Station 

Jesus  Falls  the  First  Time 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 


THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS  471 
Meditation 

OUR  dear  Saviour  carrying  the  cross  was  so 
weakened  by  its  heavy  weight  as  to  fall  exhausted 
to  the  ground.  Our  sins  and  misdeeds  were  the  heavy 
burden  which  oppressed  Him;  the  cross  was  to  Him 
light  and  sweet,  but  our  sins  were  galling  and  insup- 
portable. 

Prayer 

OMY  JESUS,  Thou  didst  bear  my  burden  and  the 
heavy  weight  of  my  sins.  Should  I,  then,  not 
bear  in  union  with  Thee  my  easy  burden  of  suffering, 
and  accept  the  sweet  yoke  of  Thy  commandments? 
Thy  yoke  is  sweet  and  Thy  burden  is  light : I therefore 
willingly  accept  it,  I will  take  up  my  cross  and  follow 
Thee. 

Our  Father,  etc. ; Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


Jourtlj  Station 


Jesus  Meets  His  Afflicted  Mother 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the.  world! 

Meditation 


OW  painful  and  sad  it  must  have  been  for  Mary, 
r-L £ the  sorrowful  Mother,  to  behold  her  beloved 
Son  laden  with  the  burden  of  the  cross!  What  un- 
speakable pangs  her  most  tender  heart  experienced! 
How  earnestly  did  she  desire  to  die  in  place  of  Jesus, 
or  at  least  with  Him!  Implore  this  sorrowful  Mother 
to  assist  you  graciously  in  the  hour  of  your  death. 


Prayer 

O JESUS,  O Mary,  I am  the  cause  of  the  great  and 
manifold  pains  which  pierce  your  loving  Hearts. 
O that  my  heart  also  would  experience  at  least  some  of 


472  THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS 

your  sufferings ! Mother  of  sorrows ! Pray  for  me  that 
I may  be  truly  sorry  for  my  sins,  bear  my  sufferings 
patiently  in  union  with  thee,  and  merit  to  enjoy  thy 
assistance  in  the  hour  of  my  death. 

Our  Father,  etc. ; Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R . Have  mercy  on  us! 


JFfftfj  Station 

Simon  of  Cyrene  Helps  Jesus  to  Carry  the  Cross 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 

Q^IMON  of  Cyrene  was  compelled  to  assist  Jesus  in 
carrying  His  Cross,  and  Jesus  accepted  his  assist- 
ance. How  willingly  would  He  also  permit  you  to 
carry  the  cross.  He  calls,  but  you  hear  Him  not;  He 
invites  you,  but  you  decline  His  invitation.  What  a 
reproach  it  is  to  bear  the  cross  reluctantly! 


Prayer 

O JESUS,  whosoever  does  not  take  up  his  cross  and 
follow  Thee  is  not  worthy  of  Thee.  Behold,  I 
will  accompany  Thee  on  the  way  of  the  cross;  I will 
carry  my  cross  cheerfully;  I will  walk  in  Thy  blood- 
stained footsteps  and  follow  Thee,  that  I may  be  with 
Thee  in  life  eternal. 

Our  Father,  etc. ; Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


Stxtfj  Station 

Veronica  Wipes  the  Face  of  Jesus 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 


THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS  473 


Meditation 


VERONICA,  impelled  by  devotion  and  compas- 
sion, wipes  the  disfigured  face  of  Jesus  with  her 
veil.  And  Jesus  imprints  on  it  His  holy  countenance: 
a great  recompense  for  so  small  a service.  What  re- 
turn do  you  make  to  your  Saviour  for  His  great  and 
manifold  benefits? 

Prayer 


©OST  merciful  Jesus,  What  return  shall  I make 
for  all  the  benefits  Thou  hast  bestowed  upon 
me  ? Behold  I consecrate  myself  entirely  to  Thy  ser- 
vice. I offer  and  consecrate  to  Thee  my  heart:  im- 
print on  it  Thy  sacred  image,  never  again  to  be  effaced 
by  sin. 

Our  Father,  etc.;  Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


Seijetttij  Station 

Jesus  Falls  the  Second  Time 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee’ 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 


*^"*HE  suffering  Jesus,  under  the  weight  of  His  cross, 
again  falls  to  the  ground;  but  the  cruel  execu- 
tioners do  not  permit  Him  to  rest  a moment.  Pushing 
and  striking  Him,  they  urge  Him  onward.  It  is  the 
frequent  repetition  of  our  sins  which  oppresses  Jesus. 
Knowing  and  realizing  this,  how  can  I continue  to  sin  ? 


Prayer 

O JESUS,  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me!  Ex- 
tend to  me  Thy  gracious  hand  and  support  me, 
that  I may  never  fall  again  into  my  old  sins.  From 
this  very  moment  I will  earnestly  strive  to  reform 
my  life  and  to  avoid  every  sin.  Help  of  the  weak, 


474  THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS 

strengthen  me  by  Thy  grace,  without  which  I can  do 
nothing,  that  I may  carry  out  faithfully  my  good  reso- 
lution. 

Our  Father,  etc.;  Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


Station 

The  Daughters  of  Jerusalem  Weep  over  Jesus 
V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee. 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 

^^HESE  devoted  women,  moved  by  compassion, 
Vz)  weep  over  the  suffering  Saviour.  But  He  turns 
to  them,  saying:  “ Weep  not  for  Me  Who  am  innocent , 
hut  weep  for  yourselves  and  for  your  children .”  Weep 
thou  also,  for  there  is  nothing  more  pleasing  to  Our 
Lord,  and  nothing  more  profitable  for  thy  self , than  tears 
that  are  shed  in  contrition  for  sin. 


Prayer 

O JESUS,  Who  will  give  to  my  eyes  a fountain  of 
tears,  that  day  and  night  I may  weep  for  my  sins. 
I beseech  Thee,  through  Thy  bitter  tears,  to  move  my 
heart  to  compassion  and  repentance,  so  that  I may 
weep  all  my  days  over  Thy  sufferings  and  still  more 
over  their  cause,  my  sins. 

Our  Father,  etc.;  Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R . Have  mercy  on  us! 

Ntntij  Statum 

Jesus  Falls  the  Third  Time 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 


THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS 
Meditation 


475 


jyESUS,  arriving  exhausted  at  the  foot  of  Calvary, 
J falls  the  third  time  to  the  ground.  His  love  for 
us,  however,  remains  strong  and  fervent. 

What  a fearfully  oppressive  burden  our  sins  must 
be  to  cause  Jesus  to  fall  so  often!  Had  He,  however, 
not  taken  them  upon  Himself,  they  would  have  plunged 
us  into  the  abyss  of  hell. 

Prayer 

/TTvOST  merciful  Jesus,  I return  Thee  infinite 
thanks  for  not  permitting  me  to  continue  in  sin 
and  to  fall,  as  I have  so  often  deserved,  into  the  depths 
of  hell.  Enkindle  in  me  an  earnest  desire  of  amend- 
ment; let  me  never  again  relapse,  but  vouchsafe  me 
the  grace  to  persevere  in  penance  to  the  end  of  my  life. 

Our  Father,  etc. ; Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


Station 

Jesus  Is  Stripped  of  His  Garments 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 

V yj  r*HEN  Our  Saviour  had  arrived  on  Calvary,  He 
was  cruelly  despoiled  of  His  garments.  How 
painful  must  this  have  been,  because  they  adhered  to 
His  wounded  and  torn  body  and  with  them  parts  of 
His  bloody  skin  were  removed.  All  the  wounds  of 
Jesus  are  renewed.  Jesus  is  despoiled  of  His  gar- 
ments that  He  might  die  possessed  of  nothing;  how 
happy  shall  I also  die  after  casting  off  my  evil  self  with 
all  its  sinful  inclinations! 


476  THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS 
Prayer 

KELP  me,  Jesus,  to  conquer  myself  and  to  be  re- 
newed according  to  Thy  will  and  desire.  I will 
not  count  the  cost,  but  will  struggle  bravely  to  cast  off 
my  evil  propensities;  despoiled  of  things  temporal,  of 
my  own  will,  I desire  to  die,  that  I may  live  to  Thee 
forevermore. 

Our  Father,  etc. ; Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


lElebentfj  Station 

Jesus  Is  Nailed  to  the  Cross 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R . Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 


Meditation 

77ESUS,  after  He  had  been  stripped  of  His  garments, 
q)  was  violently  thrown  upon  the  cross,  to  which  His 
hands  and  His  feet  were  nailed  most  cruelly.  In  this 
excruciating  pain  He  remained  silent,  and  perfectly 
resigned  to  the  will  of  His  heavenly  Father.  He 
suffered  patiently,  because  He  suffered  for  me.  How 
do  I act  in  sufferings  and  in  trouble  ? How  fretful  and 
impatient,  how  full  of  complaints  I am! 

Prayer 

O JESUS,  meek  and  gentle  Lamb  of  God,  I renounce 
forever  my  impatience.  Crucify,  O Lord,  my 
flesh  and  its  concupiscences.  Punish  me,  afflict  me 
in  this  life,  as  Thou  wiliest,  only  spare  me  in  eternity. 
I commit  my  destiny  to  Thee,  resigning  myself  to  Thy 
holy  will:  Not  my  will  but  Thine  be  done! 

Our  Father,  etc. ; Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS  477 

2EtD£lftjj  Station 

Jesus  Dies  on  the  Cross 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 

BEHOLD  Jesus  crucified!  Behold  His  wounds, 
received  for  love  of  you!  His  whole  appearance 
betokens  love!  His  head  is  bent  to  kiss  you,  His  arms 
are  extended  to  embrace  you,  His  Heart  is  open  to 
receive  you.  O superabundance  of  love!  Jesus,  the 
Son  of  God,  dies  upon  the  cross  that  man  may  live  and 
be  delivered  from  everlasting  death. 

Prayer 

OMOST  amiable  Jesus,  if  I can  not  sacrifice  my 
life  for  love  of  Thee,  I will  at  least  endeavor  to 
die  to  the  world.  How  must  I regard  the  world  and 
its  vanities,  when  I behold  Thee  hanging  on  the  cross, 
covered  with  wounds?  O Jesus!  receive  me  into  Thy 
wounded  Heart:  I belong  entirely  to  Thee;  for  Thee 
alone  do  I desire  to  live  and  to  die. 

Our  Father,  etc. ; Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


Station 

Jesus  Is  Taken  Down  from  the  Cross 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 

77ESUS  did  not  descend  from  the  cross,  but  remained 
J on  it  until  He  died.  And  when  taken  down  from 
it,  He,  in  death  as  in  life,  rested  on  the  bosom  of  His 


478  THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS 

blessed  Mother.  Persevere  in  your  resolutions  of 
reform  and  do  not  part  from  the  cross:  he  who  per- 
severeth  to  the  end  shall  be  saved.  Consider,  more- 
over, how  pure  the  heart  should  be  that  receives  the 
body  and  blood  of  Christ  in  the  adorable  Sacrament  of 
the  Altar. 

Prayer 

OLORD  Jesus,  Thy  lifeless  body,  mangled  and 
lacerated,  found  a worthy  resting-place  on  the 
bosom  of  Thy  virgin  Mother.  Have  I not  often  com- 
pelled Thee  to  dwell  in  my  heart  despite  its  unworthi- 
ness to  receive  Thee  ? Create  in  me  a new  heart,  that 
I may  worthily  receive  Thy  most  sacred  body  in  holy 
communion,  and  that  Thou  mayest  remain  in  me  and 
I in  Thee,  for  all  eternity. 

Our  Father,  etc.;  Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V . Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R . Have  mercy  on  us! 

jjmtrteentf)  Station 

Jesus  Is  Laid  in  the  Sepulcher 

V.  We  adore  Thee,  O Christ,  and  praise  Thee: 

R.  Because  by  Thy  holy  cross  Thou  hast  redeemed 
the  world! 

Meditation 

>^HE  body  of  Jesus  is  interred  in  a stranger’s  sepul- 
VS)  cher.  He  Who  in  this  world  had  not  whereupon 
to  rest  His  head  would  not  even  have  a grave  of  His 
own,  because  He  was  not  of  this  world.  You  who  are 
so  attached  to  the  world,  henceforth  despise  it,  that 
you  may  not  perish  with  it. 

Prayer 

O JESUS,  Thou  hast  set  me  apart  from  the  world: 

what,  then,  shall  I seek  therein?  Thou  hast 
created  me  for  heaven;  what,  then,  have  I to  do  with 


THE  STATIONS  OF  THE  CROSS  479 

the  world  ? Depart  from  me,  deceitful  world,  with  thy 
vanities!  Henceforth  I will  follow  the  way  of  the  cross 
traced  out  for  me  by  my  Redeemer,  and  journey  on- 
ward to  my  heavenly  home,  my  eternal  dwelling-place. 
Our  Father,  etc.;  Hail  Mary,  etc. 

V.  Lord  Jesus,  crucified: 

R.  Have  mercy  on  us! 


Conclusion 

HLMIGHTY  and  eternal  God,  Who  hast  given  to 
the  human  race  Thy  beloved  Son  as  an  example 
of  humility,  obedience,  and  patience,  to  precede  us  on 
the  way  of  the  cross,  the  way  that  leadeth  to  life, 
graciously  grant  that  we,  inflamed  by  His  infinite  love, 
may  take  upon  us  the  sweet  yoke  of  His  Gospel  together 
with  the  mortification  of  the  cross,  following  Him  as 
His  true  disciples,  so  that  we  may  one  day  gloriously 
rise  with  Him  and  joyfully  hear  the  final  sentence: 
“ Come,  ye  blessed  of  My  Father , possess  you  the  king- 
dom prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world” 
(Matt.  xxv.  34.) 


Xttanies 

Xitang  of  tbe  flbost  IbolE  IRame  of  Jesus 

'T — ' ORD,  have  mercy  on  us. 

,1  -1  Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Jesus,  hear  us. 

Jesus,  graciously  hear  us. 

God,  the  Father  of  heaven,1 

God,  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world, 

God,  the  Holy  Ghost, 

Holy  Trinity,  one  God, 

Jesus,  Son  of  the  living  God, 

Jesus,  splendor  of  the  Father, 

Jesus,  brightness  of  eternal  light, 

Jesus,  king  of  glory, 

Jesus,  the  sun  of  justice, 

Jesus,  son  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 

Jesus,  amiable, 

Jesus,  admirable, 

Jesus,  the  powerful  God, 

Jesus,  father  of  the  world  to  come, 

Jesus,  angel  of  great  counsel, 

Jesus,  most  powerful, 

Jesus,  most  patient, 

Jesus,  most  obedient, 

Jesus,  meek  and  humble  of  heart, 

Jesus,  lover  of  chastity, 

Jesus,  lover  of  us, 

Jesus,  God  of  peace, 

Jesus,  author  of  life, 

Jesus,  model  of  all  virtues, 

Jesus,  zealous  for  souls, 

Jesus,  our  God, 

Jesus,  our  refuge, 

Jesus,  father  of  the  poor, 

1 Have  mercy  on  us. 

480 


LITANY  OF  THE  HOLY  NAME  481 

Jesus,  treasure  of  the  faithful,1 
Jesus,  good  shepherd, 

Jesus,  true  light, 

Jesus,  eternal  wisdom, 

Jesus,  infinite  goodness, 

Jesus,  our  way  and  our  life,  , 

Jesus,  joy  of  angels, 

Jesus,  king  of  patriarchs, 

Jesus,  master  of  apostles, 

Jesus,  teacher  of  the  evangelists, 

Jesus,  strength  of  martyrs, 

Jesus,  light  of  confessors, 

Jesus,  purity  of  virgins, 

Jesus,  crown  of  all  saints, 

Be  merciful,  spare  us,  O Jesus. 

Be  merciful,  graciously  hear  us,  O Jesus. 

From  all  evil,2 
From  all  sin, 

From  Thy  wrath, 

From  the  snares  of  the  devil, 

From  the  spirit  of  fornication, 

From  eternal  death, 

From  a neglect  of  Thy  inspirations, 

By  the  mystery  of  Thy  holy  Incarnation, 

By  Thy  nativity, 

By  Thy  infancy, 

By  Thy  most  divine  life, 

By  Thy  labors, 

By  Thy  agony  and  passion, 

By  Thy  cross  and  dereliction, 

By  Thy  languors, 

By  Thy  death  and  burial, 

By  Thy  resurrection, 

By  Thy  ascension, 

By  Thy  institution  of  the  Most  Holy  Eucharist,3 
By  Thy  joys, 

1 Have  mercy  on  us.  2 Deliver  us,  O Jesus. 

3 Where  authorized  by  the  bishop,  the  following  invoca- 
tion may  be  added  here:  “ By  Thy  institution  of  the  Most 
Holy  Eucharist.”  (Congr.  of  Rites,  Feb.  8,  1905.) 


LITANIES 


482 

By  Thy  glory,  1 
Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Spare  us,  O Jesus! 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Graciously  hear  us,  O Jesus! 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Have  mercy  on  us,  O Jesus! 

Jesus,  hear  us. 

Jesus,  graciously  hear  us. 

Let  us  pray 

OL0RD  Jesus  Christ,  Who  hast  said,  “ Ask  and 
you  shall  receive,  seek  and  you  shall  find,  knock 
and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you!  ” mercifully  attend  to 
our  supplications,  and  grant  us  the  gift  of  Thy  divine 
charity,  that  we  may  ever  love  Thee  with  our  whole 
heart,  in  word,  and  in  deed,  and  never  desist  from  Thy 
praise. 

Give  us,  O Lord,  a perpetual  fear  and  love  of  Thy 
holy  name;  for  Thou  never  ceasest  to  govern  those 
whom  Thou  foundest  upon  the  solidity  of  Thy  love. 
Who  livest  and  reignest  one  God,  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  Jan.  16, 
1886. 


HttanE  of  tbe  Sacrefc  Ibeart  of  Jesus 

*"■ — ' ORD,  have  mercy  on  us. 

,1  1 Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 

God,  the  Father  of  heaven,2 

God,  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world, 

God,  the  Holy  Ghost, 

Holy  Trinity,  one  God, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  Son  of  the  Eternal  Father, 

1 Deliver  us,  O Jesus.  2 Have  mercy  on  us. 


LITANY  OF  THE  SACRED  HEART  483 

Heart  of  Jesus,  formed  by  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  womb 
of  the  Virgin  Mother,1 

Heart  of  Jesus,  substantially  united  to  the  Word  of  God, 
Heart  of  Jesus,  of  infinite  majesty, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  sacred  temple  of  God. 

Heart  of  Jesus,  tabernacle  of  the  Most  High, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  house  of  God  and  gate  of  heaven, 
Heart  of  Jesus,  burning  furnace  of  charity, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  abode  of  justice  and  love, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  full  of  goodness  and  love, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  abyss  of  all  virtues, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  most  worthy  of  all  praise, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  king  and  center  of  all  hearts, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  in  Whom  are  all  the  treasures  of  wis- 
dom and  knowledge, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  in  Whom  dwells  the  fulness  of  divinity, 
Heart  of  Jesus,  in  Whom  the  Father  was  well  pleased, 
Heart  of  Jesus,  of  Whose  fulness  we  have  all  received, 
Heart  of  Jesus,  desire  of  the  everlasting  hills, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  patient  and  most  merciful, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  enriching  all  who  invoke  Thee, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  fountain  of  life  and  holiness, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  propitiation  for  our  sins, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  loaded  down  with  opprobrium, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  bruised  for  our  offences, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  obedient  unto  death, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  pierced  with  a lance, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  source  of  all  consolation, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  our  life  and  resurrection, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  our  peace  and  reconciliation, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  victim  for  sin, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  salvation  of  those  who  trust  in  Thee, 
Heart  of  Jesus,  hope  of  those  who  die  in  Thee, 

Heart  of  Jesus,  delight  of  all  the  saints, 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Spare  us,  O Lord. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Graciously  hear  us,  O Lord. 


1 Have  mercy  on  us. 


484  LITANIES 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Have  mercy  on  us. 

V.  Jesus,  meek  and  humble  of  heart, 

R.  Make  our  hearts  like  unto  Thine. 


Let  us  pray 

O ALMIGHTY  and  eternal  God,  look  upon  the  heart 
of  Thy  dearly  beloved  Son,  and  upon  the  praise 
and  satisfaction  He  offers  Thee  in  the  name  of  sinners 
and  for  those  who  seek  Thy  mercy ; be  Thou  appeased 
and  grant  us  pardon  in  the  name  of  the  same  Jesus 
Christ,  Thy  Son,  Who  liveth  and  reigneth  with  Thee  in 
the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day.  — Leo  XIII,  April  2, 
1899. 

XttanE  ot  tbe  JBlesseD  XDixgin 


EORD,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 

God,  the  Father  of  heaven,1 

God,  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world, 

God,  the  Holy  Ghost, 

Holy  Trinity,  one  God, 

Holy  Mary,2 
Holy  Mother  of  God, 

Holy  Virgin  of  virgins, 

Mother  of  Christ, 

Mother  of  divine  grace, 

Mother  most  pure, 

Mother  most  chaste, 

Mother  inviolate, 

Mother  undefiled, 

Mother  most  amiable, 

Mother  most  admirable, 

1 Have  mercy  on  us.  2 


Pray  for  us. 


THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN 


485 


Mother  of  good  counsel,1 
Mother  of  our  Creator, 

Mother  of  our  Saviour, 

Virgin  most  prudent, 

Virgin  most  venerable, 

Virgin  most  renowned, 

Virgin  most  powerful, 

Virgin  most  merciful, 

Virgin  most  faithful, 

Mirror  of  justice, 

Seat  of  wisdom, 

Cause  of  our  joy, 

Spiritual  vessel, 

Vessel  of  honor, 

Singular  vessel  of  devotion, 

Mystical  rose, 

Tower  of  David, 

Tower  of  ivory, 

House  of  gold, 

Ark  of  the  covenant, 

Gate  of  heaven, 

Morning  star, 

Health  of  the  sick, 

Refuge  of  sinners, 

Comforter  of  the  afflicted," 

Help  of  Christians, 

Queen  of  angels, 

Queen  of  patriarchs, 

Queen  of  prophets, 

Queen  of  apostles, 

Queen  of  martyrs, 

Queen  of  confessors, 

Queen  of  virgins, 

Queen  of  all  saints, 

Queen  conceived  without  original  sin, 

Queen  of  the  most  holy  Rosary. 

Queen  of  peace, 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Spare  us,  O Lord. 

1 Pray  for  us. 


486  LITANIES 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Graciously  hear  us,  O Lord. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Have  mercy  on  us. 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O holy  Mother  of  God. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the  promises  of 
Christ. 


Let  us  pray 

RANT  us,  Thy  servants,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord 
VS)  God,  to  enjoy  continual  health  of  soul  and  body; 
and,  by  the  glorious  intercession  of  Blessed  Mary,  ever 
a virgin,  to  be  delivered  from  present  sorrow,  and  to 
attain  everlasting  joy.  Through  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 

In  Advent  and  at  Christmas  time,  in  lieu  of  the  above 
Prayer  there  may  be  said  the  following: 


In  &ttoent 

OG0D,  Who  wast  pleased  to  will  that  at  the  message 
of  an  angel  Thy  Word  should  take  flesh  in  the 
womb  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary;  grant  that  we,  Thy 
suppliants,  who  believe  her  to  be  truly  the  Mother  of 
God,  may  be  helped  by  her  intercession  with  Thee. 
Through  the  same  Christ  our  Lord. 


JFrom  £3jrt8tmas  IBag  to  tije  JFeast  of  tlje  Purification 
(J Feb.  2) 

OG0D,  Who,  by  the  fruitful  virginity  of  blessed 
Mary,  hast  assured  to  mankind  the  blessings  of 
eternal  life,  grant,  we  beseech  Thee,  that  we  may  ever 
experience  the  intercession  in  our  behalf  of  her,  through 
whom  we  have  been  found  worthy  to  receive  the  author 
of  life,  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Thy  Son. 

Or  the  versicle  and  prayer  may  be  varied  according  to  the 
season  of  the  ecclesiastical  year. 


THE  BLESSED  VIRGIN 
En  $tttoent 


487 


V.  The  angel  of  the  Lord  declared  unto  Mary. 
R . And  she  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 


Let  us  pray 

^Tr^OUR  forth,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord,  Thy  grace 
, 1 into  our  hearts ; that  we  to  whom  the  incarnation 
of  Christ  Thy  Son  was  made  known  by  the  message  of 
an  angel,  may  by  His  passion  and  cross  be  brought  to 
the  glory  of  His  resurrection.  Through  the  same  Christ 
our  Lord. 


•front  Cfjristntas  IBag  to  tije  purification 

V.  After  childbirth  thou  didst  remain  a most  pure 
virgin. 

R.  O Mother  of  God,  intercede  for  us. 

Prayer:  O God,  Who  by  the  fruitful  virginity,  etc. 


.front  tfje  Purification  to  fEaster 

V.  Make  me  worthy  to  praise  thee,  O holy  Virgin. 
R.  Give  me  strength  against  thine  enemies. 


Let  us  pray 

VOUCHSAFE  unto  us,  O merciful  God,  a defence 
in  our  weakness;  and  grant  that  the  prayers  of 
the  most  holy  Mother  of  God,  whom  we  commemorate, 
may  make  us  to  rise  out  of  our  evil  life.  Through  the 
same  Christ  our  Lord. 


En  Pasdjal  time 

V.  Rejoice  and  be  glad,  O Virgin  Mary.  Alleluia. 
R.  For  the  Lord  hath  truly  risen.  Alleluia. 


488 


LITANIES 


Let  us  pray 

OGOD,  Who  didst  vouchsafe  to  give  joy  to  the 
world  through  the  resurrection  of  Thy  Son,  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  grant,  we  beseech  Thee,  that, 
through  His  Mother,  the  Virgin  Mary,  we  may  obtain 
the  joys  of  everlasting  life.  Through  the  same  Christ 
our  Lord. 


JFrom  Pentecost  to  'EtJbent 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O holy  Mother  of  God. 

R . That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the  promises  of 
Christ. 


Let  us  pray 

*7""pLMIGHTY  and  everlasting  God,  Who  by  the 
co-operation  of  the  Holy  Ghost  didst  in  body 
and  in  soul  prepare  Mary,  the  glorious  virgin  mother, 
to  be  a befitting  dwelling-place  of  Thy  Son;  grant  that 
we,  who  rejoicingly  commemorate  her,  may,  by  her  lov- 
ing intercession,  be  safeguarded  from  all  the  evils  that 
threaten  us  and  from  that  death  which  is  eternal. 
Through  the  same  Christ  our  Lord.  R . Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  VII,  Sept.  30, 
1817. 


Xttang  of  St.  Joseph 


EORD,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 

God  the  Father  of  heaven,1 

God  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world, 

God  the  Holy  Ghost, 

Holy  Trinity,  one  God, 

Holy  Mary,2 
St.  Joseph, 

1 Have  mercy  on  us. 


2 Pray  for  us. 


489 


LITANY  OF  ST.  JOSEPH 

Renowned  offspring  of  David, 1 
Light  of  patriarchs, 

Spouse  of  the  Mother  of  God, 

Chaste  guardian  of  the  Virgin, 

Foster-father  of  the  Son  of  God, 

Diligent  protector  of  Christ, 

Head  of  the  Holy  Family, 

Joseph  most  just, 

Joseph  most  chaste, 

Joseph  most  prudent, 

Joseph  most  strong, 

Joseph  most  obedient, 

Joseph  most  faithful, 

Mirror  of  patience, 

Lover  of  poverty, 

Model  of  artisans, 

Glory  to  home  life, 

Guardian  of  virgins, 

Pillar  of  families, 

Solace  of  the  wretched, 

Hope  of  the  sickj 
Patron  of  the  dying, 

Terror  of  demons, 

Protector  of  Holy  Church, 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Spare  us,  O Lord. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Graciously  hear  us,  O Lord. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Have  mercy  on  us. 

V.  He  made  him  the  lord  of  His  household. 

R.  And  prince  over  all  His  possessions. 

Let  us  pray 

OG0D,  Who  in  Thy  ineffable  providence  didst  vouch- 
safe to  choose  blessed  Joseph  to  be  the  spouse 
of  Thy  most  holy  Mother;  grant,  we  beseech  Thee, 
that  we  may  have  for  our  advocate  in  heaven  him 
!Pray  for  us. 


490 


LITANIES 


whom  we  venerate  as  our  protector  on  earth:  Who 
livest  and  reignest  world  without  end.  R.  Amen. 

Indulgence  of  300  days,  once  a day,  also  applicable  to  the 
souls  in  purgatory.  — Pius  X,  March  18,  1909. 


aLitang  ot  tbe  Saints 

EORD,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 

God,  the  Father  of  heaven,1 
God  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world, 
God  the  Holy  Ghost, 

Holy  Trinity,  one  God, 

Holy  Mary,2 
Holy  Mother  of  God, 

Holy  Virgin  of  virgins, 

St.  Michael, 

St.  Gabriel, 

St.  Raphael, 

All  ye  holy  angels  and  archangels, 

All  ye  holy  orders  of  blessed  spirits, 

St.  John  Baptist, 

St.  Joseph, 

All  ye  holy  patriarchs  and  prophets, 

St.  Peter, 

St.  Paul, 

St.  Andrew, 

St.  James, 

St.  John, 

St.  Thomas, 

St.  James, 

St.  Philip, 

St.  Bartholomew, 

St.  Matthew, 

1 Have  mercy  on  us. 


Pray  for  us. 


LITANY  OF  THE  SAINTS 


491 


St.  Simon,1 
St.  Thaddeus, 

St.  Mathias, 

St.  Barnabas, 

St.  Luke, 

St.  Mark, 

All  ye  holy  apostles  and  evangelists, 
All  ye  holy  disciples  of  our  Lord, 

All  ye  holy  innocents, 

St.  Stephen, 

St.  Lawrence, 

St.  Vincent, 

SS.  Fabian  and  Sebastian, 

SS.  John  and  Paul, 

SS.  Cosmas  and  Damian, 

SS.  Gervase  and  Protase, 

All  ye  holy  martyrs, 

St.  Sylvester, 

St.  Gregory, 

St.  Ambrose, 

St.  Augustine, 

St.  Jerome, 

St.  Martin, 

St.  Nicholas, 

All  ye  holy  bishops  and  confessors, 
All  ye  holy  doctors, 

St.  Anthony, 

St.  Benedict, 

St.  Bernard, 

St.  Dominic, 

St.  Francis, 

All  ye  holy  priests  and  levites, 

All  ye  holy  monks  and  hermits, 

St.  Mary  Magdalen, 

St.  Agatha, 

St.  Lucy, 

•St.  Agnes, 

St.  Cecilia, 

St.  Catherine, 


1 Pray  for  us0 


LITANIES 


492 

St.  Anastasia,1 
All  ye  holy  virgins  and  widows, 

All  ye  holy  men  and  women,  saints  of  God,  make  in- 
tercession for  us. 

Be  merciful,  spare  us,  O Lord. 

Be  merciful,  graciously  hear  us,  O Lord. 

From  all  evil,2 
From  all  sin, 

From  Thy  wrath, 

From  sudden  and  unprovided  death, 

From  the  snares  of  the  devil, 

From  anger,  hatred,  and  all  ill-will, 

From  the  spirit  of  fornication, 

From  the  scourge  of  earthquake, 

From  plague,  famine,  and  war, 

From  lightning  and  tempest, 

From  everlasting  death, 

Through  the  mystery  of  Thy  holy  incarnation, 

Through  Thy  coming, 

Through  Thy  nativity, 

Through  Thy  baptism  and  holy  fasting, 

Through  Thy  cross  and  passion, 

Through  Thy  death  and  burial, 

Through  Thy  holy  resurrection, 

Through  Thine  admirable  ascension, 

Through  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Paraclete, 
In  the  day  of  judgment, 

We,  sinners,  we  beseech  Thee  hear  us. 

That  Thou  wouldst  spare  us,3 
That  Thou  wouldst  pardon  us, 

That  Thou  wouldst  bring  us  to  true  penance, 

That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  to  govern  and  preserve 
Thy  holy  Church, 

That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  to  preserve  our  apostolic 
prelate,  and  all  orders  of  the  Church  in  holy  religion, 
That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  to  humble  the  enemies  of 
Holy  Church, 

1 Pray  for  us.  2 Deliver  us,  O Lord. 

3 We  beseech  Thee,  hear  us. 


LITANY  OF  THE  SAINTS 


493 

That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  to  give  peace  and  true 
concord  to  Christian  kings  and  princes,1 

That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  to  grant  peace  and  unity 
to  all  Christian  people, 

That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  to  confirm  and  preserve 
us  in  Thy  holy  service, 

That  Thou  wouldst  lift  up  our  minds  to  heavenly 
desires, 

That  Thou  wouldst  render  eternal  blessings  to  all  our 
benefactors, 

That  Thou  wouldst  deliver  our  souls,  and  the  souls  of 
our  brethren,  relations,  and  benefactors,  from  eter- 
nal damnation, 

That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  to  give  and  preserve  the 
fruits  of  the  earth, 

That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  to  grant  eternal  rest  to 
all  the  faithful  departed, 

That  Thou  wouldst  vouchsafe  graciously  to  hear  us, 

Son  of  God, 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Spare  us,  O Lord. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Graciously  hear  us,  O Lord. 

Lamb  of  God,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Our  Father  ( said  silently ). 

V.  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation. 

R.  But  deliver  us  from  evil. 

Psalm  69 

OG0D,  come  to  mine  assistance:  O Lord,  make 
haste  to  help  me. 

Let  them  be  confounded  and  ashamed:  that  seek 
after  my  soul. 


1 We  beseech  Thee,  hear  us. 


LITANIES 


494 

Let  them  be  turned  backward,  and  blush  for  shame, 
that  desire  evils  unto  me. 

Let  them  be  straightway  turned  backward  blushing 
for  shame,  that  say  unto  me:  ’Tis  well,  ’tis  well. 

Let  all  that  seek  Thee  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  Thee: 
and  let  such  as  love  Thy  salvation  say  always,  The 
Lord  be  magnified. 

But  I am  needy  and  poor:  O God,  help  me. 

Thou  art  my  helper  and  my  deliverer:  O Lord, 
make  no  delay. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  etc. 

V . Save  Thy  servants. 

R.  Who  hope  in  Thee,  O my  God. 

V . Be  unto  us,  O Lord,  a tower  of  strength. 

R.  From  the  face  of  the  enemy. 

V.  Let  not  the  enemy  prevail  against  us. 

R.  Nor  the  son  of  iniquity  have  power  to  hurt  us. 

V.  O Lord,  deal  not  with  us  according  to  our  sins. 

R.  Neither  requite  us  according  to  our  iniquities. 

V.  Let  us  pray  for  our  Sovereign  Pontiff,  N. 

R.  The  Lord  preserve  him  and  give  him  life,  and 
make  him  blessed  upon  the  earth;  and  deliver  him  not 
up  to  the  will  of  his  enemies. 

V.  Let  us  pray  for  our  benefactors. 

R.  Vouchsafe,  O Lord,  for  Thy  name’s  sake,  to  re- 
ward with  eternal  life  all  those  who  do  us  good.  Amen. 

V.  Let  us  pray  for  the  faithful  departed. 

R.  Eternal  rest  grant  unto  them,  O Lord,  and  let 
perpetual  light  shine  upon  them. 

V.  May  they  rest  in  peace. 

R.  Amen. 

V.  For  our  absent  brethren. 

R.  Save  Thy  servants,  who  hope  in  Thee,  O my 
God. 

V.  Send  them  help,  O Lord,  from  the  holy  place. 

R.  And  from  Sion  protect  them. 

V.  O Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

R.  And  let  my  cry  come  unto  Thee. 

V.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

R . And  with  Thy  spirit. 


LITANY  OF  THE  SAINTS 


495 


Let  us  pray 

OG0D,  Whose  property  is  always  to  have  mercy 
and  to  spare,  receive  our  petition;  that  we,  and 
all  Thy  servants  who  are  bound  by  the  chains  of  sin, 
may,  by  the  compassion  of  Thy  goodness,  mercifully  be 
absolved. 

Graciously  hear,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord,  the 
prayers  of  Thy  suppliants,  and  pardon  the  sins  of  them 
that  confess  to  Thee ; that,  in  Thy  bounty,  Thou  mayest 
grant  us  both  pardon  and  peace. 

In  Thy  clemency,  O Lord,  show  unto  us  Thine  un- 
speakable mercy ; that  Thou  mayest  both  loose  us  from 
all  our  sins,  and  deliver  us  from  the  punishments  which 
we  deserve  for  them. 

O God,  Who  by  sin  art  offended  and  by  penance 
pacified,  mercifully  regard  the  prayers  of  Thy  people 
making  supplication  to  Thee,  and  turn  away  the 
scourges  of  Thine  anger  which  we  deserve  for  our 
sins. 

Almighty,  everlasting  God,  have  mercy  upon  Thy 
servant  AT.,  our  Sovereign  Pontiff,  and  direct  him,  ac- 
cording to  Thy  clemency,  into  the  way  of  everlasting 
salvation;  that  by  Thy  grace  he  may  desire  those 
things  that  are  pleasing  to  Thee,  and  perform  them 
with  all  his  strength. 

O God,  from  Whom  are  holy  desires,  right  counsels, 
and  just  works,  give  to  Thy  servants  that  peace  which 
the  world  cannot  give;  that,  our  hearts  being  devoted 
to  the  keeping  of  Thy  commandments,  and  the  fear  of 
enemies  being  removed,  our  times,  by  Thy  protection, 
may  be  peaceful. 

Inflame,  O Lord,  our  reins  and  heart  with  the  fire  of 
the  Holy  Ghost;  that  we  may  serve  Thee  with  a chaste 
body,  and  please  Thee  with  a clean  heart. 

O God,  the  Creator  and  Redeemer  of  all  the  faithful, 
give  to  the  souls  of  Thy  servants  departed  the  remis- 
sion of  all  their  sins;  that  through  pious  supplications 
they  may  obtain  the  pardon  which  they  have  always 
desired. 


LITANIES 


496 


Direct,  we  beseech  Thee,  O Lord,  our  actions  by  Thy 
holy  inspirations,  and  carry  them  on  by  Thy  gracious 
assistance;  that  every  prayer  and  work  of  ours  may 
always  begin  from  Thee,  and  through  Thee  be  happily 
ended. 


’LMIGHTY,  everlasting  God,  Who  hast  dominion 


over  the  living  and  the  dead,  and  art  merciful 


to  all  of  whom  Thou  foreknowest  that  they  will  be 
Thine  by  faith  and  good  works;  we  humbly  beseech 
Thee,  that  they  for  whom  we  have  resolved  to  pour 
forth  our  prayers,  whether  this  present  world  still  de- 
taineth  them  in  the  flesh,  or  the  world  to  come  hath 
already  received  them  divested  of  their  bodies,  may  by 
the  grace  of  Thy  loving-kindness  and  the  intercession 
of  all  Thy  saints,  obtain  the  remission  of  all  their  sins, 
Through  Our  Lord,  Jesus  Christ,  Thy  Son,  Who  with 
Thee  liveth  and  reigneth  in  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
God,  world  without  end. 

R.  Amen. 

V.  O Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

R.  And  let  my  cry  come  unto  Thee. 

V . May  the  almighty  and  merciful  Lord  graciously 
hear  us. 

R.  Amen. 

V . And  may  the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed, 
through  the  mercy  of  God,  rest  in  peace. 

R.  Amen. 


Benediction  of  tbe  Blessed  Sacra* 
ment 

Iptagets  at  JBeneWction 

i 

O JESUS,  Who  art  about  to  give  Thy  benediction  to 
me,  and  to  all  who  are  here  present,  I humbly  be- 
seech Thee  that  it  may  impart  to  each  and  all  of  us  the 
special  graces  we  need.  Yet  more  than  this  I ask. 
Let  Thy  blessing  go  forth  far  and  wide.  Let  it  be  felt 
in  the  souls  of  the  afflicted  who  can  not  come  here  to 
receive  it  at  Thy  feet.  Let  the  weak  and  tempted  feel 
its  power  wherever  they  may  be.  Let  poor  sinners  feel 
its  influence,  arousing  them  to  come  to  Thee.  Grant 
to  me,  O Lord,  and  to  all  here  present,  a strong  personal 
love  of  Thee,  a lively  horror  of  sin,  a higher  esteem  of 
grace,  great  zeal  for  Thy  honor  and  glory,  for  the  in- 
terest of  Thy  Sacred  Heart,  for  our  own  sanctification, 
and  for  the  salvation  of  souls.  Amen. 

J7ESUS!  dear  Pastor  of  the  flock, 

J We  crowd  in  love  about  Thy  feet; 

Our  voices  yearn  to  praise  Thee,  Lord, 

And  joyfully  Thy  presence  greet. 

Sweet  Sacrament,  we  Thee  adore, 

Oh!  make  us  love  Thee  more  and  more. 

II 

O DIVINE  Redeemer,  Who  in  Thy  infinite  goodness 
hast  been  pleased  to  leave  us  Thy  precious  body 
and  blood  in  the  blessed  Eucharist,  we  adore  Thee  with 
the  most  profound  respect,  and  return  Thee  our  most 
humble  thanks  for  all  the  favors  Thou  hast  bestowed 
upon  us,  especially  for  the  institution  of  this  most  holy 
Sacrament.  As  Thou  art  the  source  of  every  blessing, 
we  entreat  Thee  to  pour  down  Thy  benediction  this 

497 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


498 

day  upon  us  and  upon  our  relatives,  friends,  and  bene- 
factors; upon  our  Supreme  Pontiff,  our  bishops,  and 
our  priests ; and  upon  all  those  for  whom  we  offer  our 
prayers.  And,  that  nothing  may  interrupt  the  course 
of  Thy  blessing,  take  from  our  hearts  whatever  is  dis- 
pleasing to  Thee.  Pardon  our  sins,  O my  God,  which, 
for  the  love  of  Thee,  we  sincerely  detest;  purify  our 
hearts,  sanctify  our  souls,  and  bestow  a blessing  on  us 
like  that  which  Thou  didst  grant  to  Thy  disciples  at  Thy 
ascension  into  heaven;  grant  us  a blessing  that  may 
change  us,  consecrate  us,  unite  us  perfectly  to  Thee, 
fill  us  with  Thy  spirit,  and  be  to  us  in  this  life  a fore- 
taste of  those  blessings  which  Thou  hast  prepared  for 
Thy  elect  in  Thy  heavenly  kingdom.  Amen. 


fEjaculations 


/T\Y  Lord  and  my  God! 

Indulgence  of  7 years  and  7 quarantines,  each  time, 
if  said  while  looking  upon  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  — Pius 
X,  May  18,  1907. 


Jesus,  my  God,  I adore  Thee  here  present  in  the 
Sacrament  of  Thy  love. 

Indulgences:  100  days,  each  time,  before  the  taber- 
nacle. 300  days,  each  time,  at  exposition  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament.  — Pius  X,  July  3,  1908. 

Blessed  and  praised  every  moment  be  the  most  holy 
and  divine  Sacrament. 


Indulgence  of  300  days,  each  time.  — Pius  X,  April  10, 

1913- 

© Salwtarts  pfostta 


O 


SALUTARIS  Hostia, 


Quae  coeli  pandis  os- 
tium. 

Bella  premunt  hostilia; 


Da  robur,  fer  auxilium. 


O SAVING  Victim  open- 
ing wide 

The  gate  of  heav’n  to 
man  below! 

Our  foes  press  on  from 
every  side; 

Thine  aid  supply,  Thy 
strength  bestow. 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


499 


Uni  trinoque  Domino, 

Sit  sempiterna  gloria: 

Qui  vitam  sine  termino, 

Nobis  donet  in  patria. 
Amen. 


2Eantum  3£rgo 

ANTUM  ergo  sacra- 
mentum, 

Veneremur  cernui; 

Et  antiquum  documentum 

Novo  cedat  ritui; 

Praestet  fides  supplemen- 
tum 

Sensuum  defectui. 


Genitori,  Genitoque, 

Laus  et  jubilatio; 

Salus,  honor,  virtus  quoque 

Sit  et  benedictio: 
Procedenti  ab  utroque 

Compar  sit  laudatio. 
Amen. 

V . Panem  de  coelo  prae- 
stitisti  eis. 

R . Omne  delectamen- 
tum  in  se  habentem. 


To  Thy  great  name  be  end- 
less praise, 

Immortal  Godhead,  One  in 
Three ; 

Oh,  grant  us  endless  length 
of  days, 

In  our  true  native  land  with 
Thee.  Amen. 


Sacramentum 

OWN  in  adoration 
falling, 

Lo!  the  sacred  Host  we 
hail! 

Lo!  o’er  ancient  forms  de- 
parting, 

Newer  rites  of  grace  pre- 
vail; 

Faith  for  all  defects  sup- 
plying, 

Where  the  feeble  senses 
fail. 

To  the  everlasting  Father, 
And  the  Son  Who  reigns 
on  high, 

With  the  Holy  Ghost  pro- 
ceeding 

Forth  from  each  eternally, 
Be  salvation,  honor,  bless- 
ing, 

Might,  and  endless  maj- 
esty. Amen. 

V.  Thou  didst  give  them 
bread  from  heaven. 

R.  Containing  in  itself 
all  sweetness. 


5oo 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


iPrager 


DEUS,  qui  nobis  sub 
sacramento  mirabili, 
passionis  tuae  memoriam 
reliquisti:  tribue,  quaesu- 
mus,  ita  nos  corporis  et  san- 
guinis tui  sacra  mysteria 
venerari,  ut  redemptionis 
tuae  fructum  in  nobis  jugi- 
ter  sentiamus.  Qui  vivis, 
etc.  Amen. 


OGOD,  Who  in  this 
wonderful  Sacrament 
hast  left  us  a memorial  of 
Thy  passion;  grant  us,  we 
beseech  Thee,  so  to  vener- 
ate the  sacred  mysteries  of 
Thy  body  and  blood,  that 
we  may  ever  feel  within  us 
the  fruit  of  Thy  redemption. 
Who  livest,  etc.  Amen. 


The  celebrant  blesses  the  people,  silently  making  over 
them  the  sign  of  the  cross  with  the  monstrance  in  which 
the  sacred  Host  is  enshrined. 


&ct  of  l&eparatton  for  profane  ^Language 

Blessed  be  God. 

Blessed  be  His  holy  name. 

Blessed  be  Jesus  Christ,  true  God  and  true  man. 
Blessed  be  the  name  of  Jesus. 

Blessed  be  His  most  sacred  Heart. 

Blessed  be  Jesus  in  the  most  holy  Sacrament  of  the 
Altar. 

Blessed  be  the  great  Mother  of  God,  Mary  most  holy. 
Blessed  be  her  holy  and  immaculate  conception. 
Blessed  be  the  name  of  Mary,  virgin  and  mother. 
Blessed  be  God  in  His  angels  and  in  His  saints. 

Indulgence  of  two  years,  when  said  publicly  after  Mass  or 
Benediction.  — Leo  XIII,  Feb.  2,  1897. 


^thorrmus  in  Sternum 


DOREMUS  in  aeter- 
num  Sanctissimum 
Sacramentum. 


ET  us  adore  forever 
the  Most  Holy  Sac- 
rament. 


iLattbat t lommum 


AUDATE  Dominum 
omnes  gentes ; lau- 
date  eum  omnes  populi. 


RAISE  the  Lord,  all 
ye  nations : praise 
Him,  all  ye  people. 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


SOI 


Quoniam  confirmata  est 
super  nos  misericordia 
ejus : et  veritas  Domini 
manet  in  aeternum. 

Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  et 
Spiritui  Sancto. 

Sicut  erat  in  principio,  et 
nunc,  et  semper,  et  in  sae- 
cula  saeculorum.  Amen. 

Adoremus  in  aeternum 
Sanctissimum  Sacramen- 
tum. 


Because  His  mercy  is 
confirmed  upon  us:  and 
the  truth  of  the  Lord  re- 
maineth  forever. 

Glory  be  to  the  Father, 
and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

As  it  was  in  the  begin- 
ning, is  now,  and  ever  shall 
be,  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

Let  us  adore  forever  the 
Most  Holy  Sacrament. 


QLe  Hetmt  ILattbamug 


E DEUM  laudamus : 
te  Dominum  confite- 

mur. 

Te  aeternum  Patrem,  om- 
nis  terra  veneratur. 

Tibi  omnes  angeli,  tibi 
cceli,  et  universae  potesta- 
tes: 

Tibi  cherubim  et  sera- 
phim, incessabili  voce  pro- 
clamant: 

Sanctus,  sanctus,  sanc- 
tus,  Dominus  Deus  Sa- 
baoth. 

Pleni  sunt  cceli  et  terra, 
majestatis  gloriae  tuae. 

Te  gloriosus  apostolo- 
rum  chorus. 

Te  prophetarum  lauda- 
bilis  numerus. 


E PRAISE  Thee,  O 
God;  we  acknowl- 
edge Thee  to  be  the  Lord. 

Thee,  the  Father  ever- 
lasting, all  the  earth  doth 
worship. 

To  Thee  all  the  angels, 
to  Thee  the  heavens,  and 
all  the  powers, 

To  Thee  the  cherubim 
and  seraphim  cry  out  un- 
ceasingly ; 

Holy,  holy,  holy,  Lord 
God  of  hosts. 

Full  are  the  heavens  and 
the  earth  of  the  majesty  of 
Thy  glory. 

Thee,  the  glorious  choir 
of  the  apostles, 

Thee,  the  admirable  com- 
pany of  the  prophets, 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


502 

Te  m arty  rum  candida- 
tus  laudat  exercitus. 

Te  per  orbem  terrarum 
sancta  confitetur  Ecclesia. 

Patrem  immensae  majes- 
tatis. 

Venerandum  tuum  ve- 
rum  et  unicum  Filium. 

Sanctum  quoque  Paracli- 
tum  Spiritum. 

Tu  Rex  gloriae,  Christe. 

Tu  Patris  sempiternus 
es  Filius. 

Tu  ad  liberandum  sus- 
cepturus  hominem  non  hor- 
ruisti  Virginis  uterum. 

Tu,  devicto  mortis  acu- 
leo,  aperuisti  credentibus 
regna  coelorum. 

Tu  ad  dexteram  Dei  se- 
des,  in  gloria  Patris. 

Judex  crederis  esse  ven- 
turus. 


Thee,  the  white-robed 
army  of  the  martyrs  doth 
praise. 

Thee,  the  holy  Church 
throughout  the  world  doth 
confess, 

The  Father  of  infinite 
majesty. 

Thine  adorable,  true,  and 
only  Son. 

And  the  Holy  Ghost  the 
Paraclete. 

Thou,  O Christ,  art  the 
King  of  glory. 

Thou  art  the  everlasting 
Son  of  the  Father. 

Thou,  having  taken  upon 
Thee  to  deliver  man,  didst 
not  disdain  the  Virgin’s 
womb. 

Thou,  having  overcome 
the  sting  of  death,  hast 
opened  to  believers  the 
kingdom  of  heaven. 

Thou  sittest  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  in  the  glory 
of  the  Father. 

Thou,  we  believe,  art  the 
Judge  to  come. 


All  kneel  while  the  following  verse  is  being  sung: 


ERGO  quaesumus, 
vD  tuis  famulis  subveni, 
quos  pretioso  sanguine  re- 
demisti. 

jEtema  fac  cum  sanctis 
tuis,  in  gloria  numerari. 


E BESEECH  Thee, 
therefore,  to  help 
Thy  servants  whom  Thou 
hast  redeemed  with  Thy 
precious  blood. 

Make  them  to  be  num- 
bered with  Thy  saints  in 
glory  everlasting. 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


503 


Salvum  fac  populum 
tuum,  Domine,  et  benedic 
haereditati  tuae. 

Et  rege  eos:  et  extolle 
illos  usque  in  aeternum. 

Per  singulos  dies  bene- 
dicimus  te. 

Et  laudamus  nomen 
tuum  in  saeculum,  et  in 
saeculum  saeculi. 

Dignare  Domine  die  isto 
sine  peccato  nos  custodire. 

Miserere  nostri,  Domine, 
miserere  nostri. 

Fiat  misericordia  tua  Do- 
mine super  nos,  quemad- 
modum  speravimus  in  te. 

In  te,  Domine,  speravi: 
non  confundar  in  aeternum. 

On  occasions  of  solemn  t 
prayers  a 
V '.  'rr.ENEDICTUS  es 
Domine  Deus  pa- 
trum  nostrorum. 

R . Et  laudabilis,  et  glo- 
riosus  in  saecula. 

V.  Benedicamus  Pa- 
trem,  et  Filium,  cum 
Sancto  Spiritu. 

R.  Laudemus,  et  super- 
exaltemus  eum  in  saecula. 

V.  Benedictus  es  Do- 
mine in  firmamento  coeli. 

R.  Et  laudabilis,  et  glo- 
riosus,  et  superexaltatus  in 
saecula. 


O Lord,  save  Thy  people, 
and  bless  Thine  inherit- 
ance. 

And  govern  them,  and 
exalt  them  forever. 

Day  by  day,  we  bless 
Thee. 

And  we  praise  Thy  name 
forever;  yea,  forever  and 
forever. 

Vouchsafe,  O Lord,  this 
day,  to  keep  us  without  sin. 

Have  mercy  on  us,  O 
Lord;  have  mercy. on  us. 

Let  Thy  mercy,  O Lord, 
be  upon  us;  as  we  have 
hoped  in  Thee. 

In  Thee,  O Lord,  have  I 
hoped:  let  me  never  be 
confounded. 

hanksgiving  the  following 
e added: 

V.  'T7>LESSED  art  Thou, 
X3  O Lord,  the  God 
of  our  Fathers. 

R.  And  worthy  to  be 
praised,  and  glorified  for- 
ever. 

V.  Let  us  bless  the 
Father,  and  the  Son,  with 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

R.  Let  us  praise  and 
magnify  Him  forever. 

V.  Blessed  art  Thou,  O 
Lord,  in  the  firmament  of 
heaven. 

R.  And  worthy  to  be 
praised,  and  glorified,  and 
exalted  forever. 


504 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


V.  Bene  die  anima  mea 
Domino. 

R.  Et  noli  oblivisci  om- 
nes  retributiones  ejus. 

V.  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
ionem  meam. 

R.  Et  clamor  meus  ad 
1 veniat. 

V.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

R.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

Oremus 

EUS,  cujus  misericor- 
diae  non  est  nume- 
rus,  et  bonitatis  infinitus 
est  thesaurus:  piissimae 
majestati  tuae  pro  collatis 
donis  gratias  agimus,  tuam 
semper  clementiam  exo- 
rantes;  ut  qui  petentibus 
postulata  concedis,  eosdem 
non  deserens,  ad  praemia 
futura  disponas. 


Deus,  qui  cor  da  fidelium 
Sancti  Spiritus  illustratione 
docuisti:  da  nobis  in  eo- 
dem  Spiritu  recta  sapere, 
et  de  ejus  semper  consola- 
tione  gaudere. 

Deus,  qui  neminem  in  te 
Sperantem  nimium  affligi 
permittis,  sed  pium  preci- 
bus  praestas  auditum:  pro 
postUlationibus  nostris,  vo- 


V.  Bless  the  Lord,  O my 
soul. 

R.  And  forget  not  all  His 
benefits. 

V.  O Lord,  hear  my 
prayer. 

R.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  Thee. 

V.  The  Lord  be  with 
you. 

R.  And  with  thy  spirit. 
Let  us  pray 

OGOD,  Whose  mercy 
is  boundless,  and  the 
treasure  of  Whose  good- 
ness is  infinite ; we  render 
thanks  to  Thy  most  pre- 
cious majesty  for  the  gifts 
Ihou  hast  bestowed  upon 
us:  evermore  beseeching 
Thy  clemency  that,  as  Thou 
grantest  the  petitions  of 
those  who  seek  Thee,  Thou 
wilt  never  forsake  them, 
but  wilt  prepare  them  for 
the  rewards  to  come. 

O God,  Who  hast  taught 
the  hearts  of  the  faithful  by 
the  light  of  the  Holy  Spirit: 
grant  that  by  the  gift  of 
the  same  Spirit,  we  may  be 
always  truly  wise,  and  ever 
rejoice  in  His  consolation. 

O God,  Who  sufferest 
none  that  hope  in  Thee  to 
be  overmuch  afflicted,  but 
dost  lend  a gracious  ear 
unto  their  prayers ; we  ren- 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


505 


tisque  susceptis  gratias  agi- 
mus ; te  piissime  depre- 
cantes,  ut  a cunctis  semper 
muniamur  adversis.  Per 
Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum,  qui 
tecum  vivit  et  regnat  in 
unitate  Spiritus  Sancti 
Deus,  per  omnia  saecula 
saeculorum. 

R.  Amen. 


der  Thee  thanks  for  having 
heard  our  supplications 
and  promises;  and  we  most 
humbly  beseech  Thee,  that 
we  may  evermore  be  pro- 
tected from  all  adversities. 
Through  Jesus  Christ,  Thy 
Son,  our  Lord,  Who  liveth 
and  reigneth  with  Thee,  in 
the  unity  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
God,  world  without  end. 

R.  Amen. 


3^olg  (§olJ,  W,t  praise  STfjg  Name 

OLY  God,  we  praise  Thy  name! 
r-Lb  Lord  of  all,  we  bow  before  Thee! 
All  on  earth  Thy  scepter  claim, 

All  in  heav’n  above  adore  Thee: 
Infinite  Thy  vast  domain, 

Everlasting  is  Thy  reign. 


Hark!  the  loud  celestial  hymn 
Angel  choirs  above  are  raising! 
Cherubim  and  seraphim 

In  unceasing  chorus  praising, 

Fill  the  heavens  with  sweet  accord: 
Holy!  holy!  holy  Lord! 


Lo!  the  apostolic  train 

Join  Thy  sacred  name  to  hallow! 
Prophets  swell  the  loud  refrain, 

And  the  white-robed  martyrs  follow; 
And  from  mom  till  set  of  sun, 

Through  the  Church,  the  song  goes  on. 

Holy  Father,  holy  Son, 

Holy  Spirit,  three  we  name  Thee, 
While  in  essence  only  one, 

Undivided  God,  we  claim  Thee, 

And  adoring  bend  the  knee, 

While  we  own  the  mystery. 


PRAYERS  AT  BENEDICTION 


506 

EGI  saeculorum  im- 
r-l-As  mortali  et  invisibili, 
soli  Deo  honor  et  gloria  in 
saecula  saeculorum.  Amen. 
(1  Tim.  i.  17.) 


Y^OW  to  the  King  oi 
ages,  immortal,  in- 
visible, the  only  God,  be 
honor  and  glory  forevei 
and  ever.  Amen.  (1  Tim. 
i.  17.) 


alphabetical  llnbei 


A 

Accessory  to  another’s  sin, 
nine  ways  of  being, 

307. 

Acts : 

adoration,  314. 

and  thanksgiving,  385. 
charity,  31 1,  314- 
consecration,  326,  379, 

395- 

and  reparation  to  the 
Sacred  Heart,  394. 
contrition,  310,  31 1,  314, 
322. 

faith,  289,  314,  374. 

and  adoration,  321,  324. 
hope,  314,  321,  325. 

and  confidence  in  God, 
375- 

humility,  322. 
love,  326. 

and  desire,  321. 
oblation,  329. 

in  thanksgiving  for  bless- 
ings received,  406. 
to  be  made  before  a rep- 
resentation of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  382. 
reparation,  327. 

and  consecration  to  the 
Sacred  Heart,  298. 
for  blasphemy,  408. 
to  Jesus  in  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  389. 
to  the  Sacred  Heart,  for 
the  First  Friday,  393. 
spiritual  communion,  by  St. 

Alphonsus,  300,  368. 
thanksgiving,  329. 
and  petitions,  334. 


Acts  ( Continued ) 

union  with  Jesus  in  the 
Garden  of  Olives,  443. 

Adoration,  act  of,  314. 

and  reparation,  acts  of,  to 
Jesus  in  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  401. 
and  thanksgiving,  indul- 
genced  acts  of,  385. 
hour  of,  348. 

a method  for,  433. 
method  of,  according  to  the 
four  ends  of  sacrifice, 
348. 

“ Adoremus  in  aeternum ,’* 
500. 

Agony,  prayer  for  those  in 
their,  296,  372. 

Aloysius,  St.,  dedication  of, 
to  Mary,  420. 

Alphonsus  Liguori,  St.: 
act  of  spiritual  communion 
by,  300,  368. 
night  prayer  by,  249. 
prayer  by,  for  visit  to  the 
Blessed  Sacrament, 

365. 

to  be  said  before  a rep- 
resentation of  Mary, 
325- 

steps  of  the  Passion,  451. 

Angel  guardian,  indulgenced 
ejaculations  to,  246, 
466. 

Angelus , the,  249. 

“ Anima  Christi ,”  the 
(prayer),  301,  317; 

Cardinal  Newman’s 
translation,  332,  370. 

Apostleship  of  Prayer,  morn- 
ing offering  of  the,  246. 


507 


5o8 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


B 


Beads  of  the  Sacred  Heart, 
the,  466. 

“ Behold,  my  most  loving 
Jesus  ” (prayer),  314, 
368. 

Benediction  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  497. 
Benefactors,  prayer  for,  446. 
Blessed  Margaret  Mary,  see 
Margaret  Mary,  Bl. 
Blessed  Sacrament,  the : 
act  of  charity  before,  376. 
act  of  faith  before,  374. 
act  of  hope  and  confidence 
in  God  before,  375. 
act  of  reparation  to  Jesus 
in,  389. 

acts  of  adoration  and  repa-. 

ration  to,  401. 
Benediction  of,  497. 
hymn  to,  455. 
indulgenced  ejaculations 
to,  271,  272,  282,  295, 

300,  366,  367,  385, 
389,  391,  43i,  498- 

indulgenced  prayers  to, 

301,  317,  318,  319, 


332,  333, 

364,  365, 


336,  355, 
367,  368, 


369,  370,  389,  39i, 


392,  401. 

morning  salutation  and 
offering  to,  246. 
prayer  before,  367. 

of  St.  Alphonsus  for  a 
visit  to,  365. 
to  Our  Lord  in,  391. 
prayers  during  a procession 
of,  392. 

for  visits  to,  341,  364. 

Blessed  Virgin,  the,  see  also 
Mary,  Our  Lady, 
dedication  of  St.  Aloysius 
to,  420. 


Blessed  Virgin,  the  ( Contd .) 

indulgenced  ejaculations 
to,  245,  282,  283,  304, 
312,  318,  337,  367, 
421,  424,  425,  426, 
428,  467. 

indulgenced  prayers  to, 
249,  250,  419,  420, 
421,  422,  425,  426, 
427,  484- 

litany  of,  484. 

prayer  of  St.  Alphonsus  to, 
420. 

prayer  to,  Our  Lady  of 
Sorrows,  428. 

three  offerings  in  honor  of, 
419. 


C 

Cardinal  Newman : 

prayer  of,  for  a happy 
death,  372. 

translation  of  the  Anima 
Christi  by,  332,  370. 

Carroll,  archbishop,  prayer 
of,  for  the  Church  and 
the  civil  authorities, 
412. 

Chaplet  in  honor  of  the  Im- 
maculate Heart  of 
Mary,  422. 

Chaplet  of  the  Sacred  Heart, 
396. 

Charity,  act  of,  311,  314. 
before  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, 376. 

Church,  the : 

and  the  civil  authorities, 
prayer  for,  412. 
and  the  Supreme  Pontiff, 
prayer  for,  318. 
commandments  of,  307. 
prayer  for,  445. 
prayer  to  the  Holy  Spirit 
for,  288,  446. 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


509 


Civil  authorities,  Archbishop 
Carroll’s  prayer  for, 
412. 

Clare  of  Assisi,  St.,  prayer 
of,  to  the  five  wounds, 
409. 

Clement  XI,  prayer  com- 
posed by,  414. 

“ Come,  Holy  Ghost,”  289. 

Commandments : 
of  the  Church,  307. 
of  God,  306. 

Communion : 

devotions  for,  313,  321. 
prayers  after,  315,  323,  336. 
prayers  before,  313,  321. 
spiritual,  act  of,  by  St. 
AlphonsusLiguori,  300, 
368. 

Confession : 

devotions  for,  305. 
examination  of  conscience, 
306. 

prayers  before,  305. 
thanksgiving  after,  312. 

Confidence  and  hope,  act  of, 
before  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  375. 

Confiteor,  the,  253. 
prayer  at,  283. 

Conscience,  examination  of, 
306. 

Consecration,  acts  of : 

by  Bl.  Margaret  Mary,  379. 
to  the  Sacred  Heart,  298, 
381,  395- 

Contrition,  acts  of,  310,  31 1, 
314,  322,  378. 

Conversion  of  sinners,  prayer 
for,  294. 

Corpus  Christi,  plenary  in- 
dulgence to  be  gained 
on,  364. 

“ Could  you  not  watch  one 
hour  with  Me?”  442. 

Cross,  stations  of  the,  469. 


Cross,  the,  prayer  to  Our  Lord 
on,  294. 

Crucifix,  prayer  before  a,  319. 


D 

Daily  act  of  oblation,  291. 

De  profundis  ” (ps.  cxxix) 
for  the  faithful  de- 
parted, 418. 

Dead,  prayers  for  the,  296, 
418. 

versicles  and  responses 
for  the,  417. 

“ Dear  Jesus  ” (prayer),  301, 
333- 

Death  : 

Cardinal  Newman’s  prayer 
for  a happy,  372. 

ejaculations  for  a happy, 
374- 

prayer  (“  Divine  Jesus  ”) 
for  a holy,  206,  399. 
for  a happy,  294,  401. 
for  plenary  indulgence 
at  the  hour  of,  400. 

Divine  Heart  of  Jesus, 
prayer  to,  371. 

“ Divine  Jesus  ” (prayer), 
206,  399. 

Divine  praises,  the,  500. 

Dolors,  prayer  to  Our  Lady 
of,  428. 

“ Down  in  adoration  falling  ” 
(hymn),  357,  387,  499- 

Dying,  the : 

offering  of  Masses  for,  282. 

prayer  for,  372. 


E 

Elevation  of  the  chalice,  the, 
indulgenced  prayer  at, 
295- 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


5io 

Elevation  of  the  Host,  the, 
indulgenced  aspira- 
tion at  the,  295. 

“ En  Ego  ” (prayer),  319. 

Eucharist,  the  Holy,  prayer 
to  Jesus  in,  369. 

Eucharistic  Heart  of  Jesus, 
indulgenced  acts  of 
devotion  to,  382. 

Eucharistic  Rosary,  the,  459. 

Evening  prayers,  248. 


F 

Faith,  acts  of,  289,  314. 

before  the  Blessed  Sac- 
rament, 374. 
and  adoration,  321,  324. 

Faith,  the,  prayer  for  the 
propagation  of,  288, 
446. 

First  Friday,  the,  act  of  repa- 
ration to  the  Sacred 
Heart  for,  393. 

Five  wounds,  the,  prayer  of 
St.  Clare  of  Assisi  to, 
409- 

Forty  Hours’  Adoration : 
indulgences,  355. 
liturgy  of,  356. 
first  day,  356. 
second  day,  361. 
third  day,  361. 

Four  ends  of  sacrifice,  the, 
method  of  adoration 
according  to,  348. 


G 

Gertrude,  St.,  offering, 
thanksgiving  and  pe- 
titions of,  331. 

Gloria  Patris,  practice  of  the 
seven,  285. 


God  the  Father : 

act  of  thanksgiving  to,  302. 
indulgenced  ejaculations 
to,  296,  467. 

indulgenced  prayers  to, 
281,  283,  291,  293, 

296,  302,  303,  406. 

Greater  love  of  Jesus,  prayer 
for,  377. 

Guardian  angel,  indulgenced 
ejaculations  to,  246, 
466. 


H 

“ Hail,  holy  Queen,”  the, 
275- 

Happy  death : 

Cardinal  Newman’s  prayer 
for  a,  372. 

ejaculations  for  a,  374. 

prayer  for  a,  294. 

Heart  of  Jesus,  the,  praying  in 
Garden  of  Olives,  acts 
by  which  we  may  unite 
ourselves  to,  443. 

Holy  communion,  see  Com- 
munion. 

Holy  death,  prayer,  “ Divine 
Jesus,”  for  a,  399. 

Holy  Family,  the : 

indulgenced  ejaculations 
to,  248,  371,  374,  439, 
468. 

indulgenced  prayers  to, 
304,  419- 

prayer  in  honor  of,  304. 

prayer  for  a holy  life  and 
happy  death,  in  honor 
of,  406. 

short  prayer  in  honor  of, 
419- 

Holy  Ghost,  see  Holy  Spirit. 

“ Holy  God,  we  praise  Thy 
Name  ” (hymn),  505. 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


5ii 


Holy  Hour,  the,  439. 
a method  for,  441. 
offering  of,  442. 

Holy  life,  a,  and  a happy 
death,  prayer  to  Jesus 
for,  401. 

Holy  Name,  the : 

act  of  reparation  to,  for 
blasphemy,  408. 
litany  of  the,  480. 
prayer  in  honor  of,  407. 

Holy  Spirit : 

indulgenced  prayers  to, 
288,  289,  446. 
prayer  to,  for  the  Church, 
288,  446. 

Holy  Thursday,  plenary  in- 
dulgence to  be  gained 
on,  364. 

Holy  Trinity,  the,  indulgenced 
prayers  to,  283,  292. 

Hope,  acts  of,  314,  321,  325. 

Hour  of  adoration : 
a method  for,  433. 
on  Thursday,  indulgences 
for,  364. 

Hour  of  death,  prayer  for 
plenary  indulgence  at 
the,  400. 

Humility,  act  of,  322. 

Hymns : 

“ Down  in  adoration  fall- 
ing,” 357,  3&7»  499- 
“ Forget  me  not,”  454. 

“ Holy  God,  we  praise  Thy 
Name,”  505. 

“ Jesus,  Master,  Teach 
Me,”  432. 

“ Jesus,  my  Lord,  my 
God,  my  All,”  455. 

“ Lauda  Sion  Salvato- 
rem ,”  362. 

“ O Sacred  Heart,  what 
shall  I render  Thee,” 
453- 

“ O Salutaris  Hostia ,”  498. 


Hymns  ( Continued ) 

“ O Saving  Victim,”  498. 

“ O Sion,  thy  Redeemer 
praising,”  362. 

“ Pange  lingua ,”  356. 

“ Sing,  my  soul,”  356. 

“ Tantum  ergo?'  357,  387, 
499. 

“ Te  Deum  Laudamus," 
501. 

“ We  praise  Thee,  O 
God,”  501. 


Ignatius  Loyola,  St.,  offering 
and  prayer  of,  290, 
3i7,  369. 

Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary, 
chaplet  in  honor  of, 
422. 

Immaculate  Mary,  the,  an- 
them, versicle,  and 
prayer,  in  honor  of, 
425- 

Indulgenced  ejaculations, 
245,  246,  248,  271, 
272,  276,  282,  283, 
284,  287,  289,  290, 
291,  293,  295,  296, 
297,  300,  301,  303, 
304,  312,  318,  333, 
337,  366,  367,  368, 
37i,  372,  374,  378, 
379,  380,  381,  385, 
389,  391,  400,  409, 
419,  421,  424,  425, 
426,  428,  431,  439, 
445,  446,  453,  466, 
467,  468,  498. 

Indulgenced  prayers,  249, 
250,  281,  283,  285, 
286,  288,  289,  290, 
291,  292,  293,  294, 
296,  297,  298,  301, 
302,  303,  304,  3i5, 


512  ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


Indulgenced  prayers  ( Con- 
tinued) 


317, 

318, 

3i9, 

332, 

333, 

336, 

355, 

364, 

365, 

367, 

368, 

369, 

370, 

37i, 

372, 

377, 

379, 

382, 

389, 

39L 

392, 

396, 

399, 

401, 

406, 

407, 

408, 

409, 

415, 

419, 

420, 

421, 

422, 

425, 

426, 

427, 

439, 

446, 

457, 

458, 

480, 

482, 

484, 

488, 

500. 

arranged 

for  use  at  Mass, 

281. 


Jerome  Emiliani,  St.,  ejacu- 
lation of,  419. 

Jesus,  see  also  Our  Lord. 

Jesus  crucified,  prayer  before 
a representation  of, 
319- 

Jesus  dead,  prayer  to,  406. 

Jesus  in  the  tabernacle,  night 
salutation  and  prayer 

to,  249- 

Jesus  is  waiting  in  His  Prison 
of  Love,  342. 

“ Jesus,  living  in  Mary  ” 
(prayer),  287. 

“ Jesus,  Master,  teach  me” 
(hymn),  432. 

“ Jesu  mi  crucifixe  ” (prayer), 

294. 

“Jesus,  my  Master” 
(prayer),  400. 

Joseph,  St.,  indulgenced 
ejaculations  to,  246, 
458. 

indulgenced  prayer  to,  304, 
457,  458,  488. 
invocation  to,  458. 
litany  of,  488. 


Joseph,  St.  ( Continued ) 
Patron  of  the  Universal 
Church,  prayer  to,  458. 
prayer  to,  for  the  October 
devotions,  457. 

“ Judica  me”  (psalm  xlii), 
252. 

L 

“ Lauda  Sion  Salvatorem  ” 
(hymn),  362. 

“ Laudate  Dominum  ” (ps. 
cxvi),  500. 

Leo  XIII : 

act  of  consecration  to  the 
Sacred  Heart  by,  395. 
prayer  to  St.  Joseph  or- 
dered by,  457. 

Litanies : 

of  St.  Joseph,  488. 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  484. 
of  the  Holy  Name,  480. 
of  the  Sacred  Heart,  482. 
of  the  Saints,  490. 

“ Look  down  upon  me  ” 
(prayer),  319. 

Loreto,  litany  of,  484. 

Love,  act  of,  326. 

and  desire,  act  of,  321. 
the  Prisoner  of,  429. 

Low  Mass,  prayers  after,  275. 

M 

Margaret  Mary,  Bl.,  act  of 
consecration  by,  379. 
ejaculation  of,  380. 

Mary,  see  also  Blessed  Vir- 
gin, Our  Lady, 
chaplet  in  honor  of  the 
Immaculate  Heart  of, 
422. 

our  Helper,  prayer  to,  426. 

Mary  Immaculate,  invoca- 
tion to,  425. 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX  513 


Mass : 

indulgenced  prayers  ar- 
ranged for  use  at, 
281. 

Low,  prayers  after,  275. 
offering  to  be  made  at  the 
beginning  of,  281. 
.ordinary  of  the,  252. 
to  beg  for  peace,  277. 

Masses,  offering  of,  for  the 
dying,  282. 

Mercy,  spiritual  and  corporal 
works  of,  308. 

Moments  before  the  taber- 
nacle, 341. 

Morning  offering  of  the  Apos- 
tleship  of  Prayer, 
246. 

Morning  prayers,  245. 

Morning  salutation  and  of- 
fering to  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  246. 

“ Most  compassionate  Je- 
sus ” (prayer),  285. 

Most  Holy,  petitions  before 
the,  373. 

Mother  of  confidence,  prayer 
to,  421. 

Mother  of  Mercy,  the,  ejacu- 
lation to,  283. 

Municipality,  prayer  in  be- 
half of  a,  367. 

“My  crucified  Jesus” 
(prayer),  294. 

Mysteries  of  the  Rosary,  456. 


N 

Newman,  Cardinal : 
translation  of  the  Anima 
Christi  by,  332,  370. 
prayer  for  a happy  death 
by, 372. 

Night  prayer,  a,  by  St.  Al- 
phonsus  Liguori,  249. 


Night  prayers,  see  Evening 
prayers. 

Night  salutation  and  prayer 
to  Jesus  in  the  taber- 
nacle, 249. 


O 

“ O God,  come  to  my  assist- 
ance ” (ps.  lxix) , 358, 
493- 

“ O Jesus,  sweetest  Love  ” 
(prayer),  315. 

“ O Lord  Jesus  ” (prayer), 
328. 

“ O Sacred  Heart  ” (hymn), 
453- 

“ O Salutaris  Hostia  ” 

(hymn),  498. 

“ O Sion,  thy  Redeemer 

praising  ” (hymn), 

362. 

Oblation : 

act  of,  329. 

before  a representation 
of  the  Sacred  Heart, 
382. 

daily,  291. 

in  thanksgiving  for  bless- 
ings received,  302, 
406. 

October  devotions,  prayer  to 
St.  Joseph  for  the,  457. 

Offering : 

at  the  beginning  of  Mass, 

281. 

morning,  of  the  Apostleship 
of  Prayer,  246. 

of  Masses  for  the  dying, 

282. 

of  the  Holy  Hour,  442. 

of  the  Precious  Blood,  404, 
406. 

thanksgiving,  and  petitions 
of  St.  Gertrude,  331. 


5i4 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


Offering  ( Continued ) 

three,  in  honor  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  419. 
to  Jesus,  290. 
to  the  Eternal  Father,  291, 
293- 

to  the  Sacred  Heart,  392. 

“Omnipotent  Lord” 
(prayer),  285. 

Ordinary  of  the  Mass,  252. 

Our  Father,  the,  268,  298. 

Our  Lady,  see  also  Mary, 
Blessed  Virgin. 

Mother  of  confidence, 
prayer  to,  421. 
of  dolors,  pious  exercise 
in  honor  of,  427. 
of  good  counsel,  prayer 
to,  421. 

of  perpetual  help,  conse- 
cration and  prayer  to, 
425- 

of  sorrows,  prayer  to, 
428. 

Our  Lord : 

indulgenced  ejaculations 
to,  282,  284,  287,  290, 
291,  296,  303,  372, 
378,  379,  400,  409, 
419,  445,  446,  453, 
467. 

indulgenced  prayers  to, 
285,  286,  290,  291, 
294,  3i5,  3i7,  332, 
333,  368,  369,  370, 
372,  377,  382,  389, 
39i,  399,  401,  406, 
407,  408,  409,  415, 
446,  480,  500. 
on  the  Cross,  prayer  to,  294. 

Our  Saviour : 

prayer  in  honor  of  the 
sacred  sufferings  of, 
399- 

“ Out  of  the  depths  ” (ps. 
cxxix),  418. 


P 

“ Pange  lingua  ” (hymn), 

356. 

Passion  of  Our  Lord : 

prayers  in  commemoration 
of,  for  the  poor  souls 
in  purgatory,  415. 
steps  of  the,  451. 
thoughts  and  affections  on 
the,  448. 

“ Pater  noster”  the,  298. 

Peace: 

Mass  to  beg  for,  277. 
prayers  for,  298,  299,  446. 

Perpetual  Help,  consecration 
and  prayer  to  Our 
Lady  of,  425. 

Perseverance,  prayer  for, 
337- 

Petitions  before  the  Most 
Holy,  372. 

Philip  Neri,  St.,  ejaculation 
of,  282. 

Pious  exercise  in  honor  of  Our 
Lady  of  Dolors,  427. 

Poor  souls  in  purgatory  : 
prayers  in  commemoration 
of  the  passion  of  Our 
Lord  for,  415. 
short  indulgenced  prayer 
for,  373. 

versicles  in  aid  of  the,  297. 

Pope,  prayer  for  the,  445. 

“ Praise  the  Lord,  all  ye 
nations  ” (ps.  cxvi), 
500. 

Prayer : 

a universal,  414. 
before  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, 367. 

“ Divine  Jesus,”  286. 
during  hour  of  adoration, 
353- 

for  a happy  death,  294. 
for  benefactors,  446. 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


5i5 


Prayer  ( Continued ) 

for  greater  love  of  Jesus, 
377- 

for  peace,  298,  299. 
for  perseverance,  339. 
for  the  Church  and  the 
Pope,  318. 

for  the  conversion  of  sin- 
ners, 294. 
for  the  dead,  296. 
for  the  propagation  of  the 
Faith,  288. 

for  the  souls  in  purgatory, 
373- 

for  those  in  their  agony, 
296,  372. 

in  behalf  of  a municipality, 
367. 

in  honor  of  Holy  Name  of 
Jesus,  407. 

“ Jesus,  Living  in  Mary,” 
287. 

“ Loosen,  O Lord,”  283. 

“ Most  compassionate 
Jesus,”  285. 

“ Take,  O Lord,”  317. 
to  Jesus  dead,  406. 
to  Jesus  for  a holy  life  and 
a happy  death,  401. 
to  Jesus  in  the  Holy  Eu- 
charist, 369. 

to  Jesus  in  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Altar,  333,  391. 
to  overcome  evil  passions 
and  to  become  a saint, 
301. 

to  the  Divine  and  Most 
Compassionate  Heart 
of  Jesus,  297. 
to  the  Holy  Spirit  for  the 
Church,  288. 

to  the  Most  Holy  Trinity, 
283,  292. 

to  the  Sacred  Heart,  337, 
370. 

“ Omnipotent  Lord,”  285. 


Prayers : 

after  Low  Mass,  275. 

for  visits  to  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  364. 

to  implore  peace,  446. 

Precepts  of  the  Church,  the, 

307. 

examination  on,  310. 

Precious  Blood : 

offering  of  the,  406. 

seven  offerings  of  the,  404. 

Prison  of  love,  Jesus  waiting 
in  the,  342. 

Prisoner  of  love,  the,  429. 

Procession  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  prayers 
during,  392. 

Profane  language,  act  of  rep- 
aration for,  500. 

Propagation  of  the  Faith, 
prayer  for,  288,  446. 

Psalms : 

De  Profundis  (cxxix),  418. 

Judge  me,  O God  (xlii), 
252. 

Laudate  Dominum  (cxvi), 
500. 

O God,  come  to  my  assist- 
ance (lxix) , 358,.493. 

Out  of  the  depths  (cxxix), 
418. 

Purgatory,  prayers  in  com- 
memoration of  the 
Passion  for  the  poor 
souls  in,  415. 

versicles  in  aid  of  the  souls 
in,  297,  373. 

R 

Regina  Coeli , the,  250. 

Reparation : 

acts  of,  327,  401. 
for  blasphemy,  408. 
for  profane  language, 
500. 


516  ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


Reparation  ( Continued ) 

to  Jesus  in  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  389. 
for  members  of  the 
Tabernacle  Society, 
389- 

to  the  Sacred  Heart,  298. 
during  hour  of  adora- 
tion, 351. 

Resignation  to  the  will  of 
God,  ejaculation  of, 
400. 

Rosary,  the : 

Eucharistic,  459. 
mysteries  of  the  holy,  456. 

S 

Sacred  Heart,  the : 

act  of  consecration  to,  381. 
of  consecration  and  rep- 
aration to,  298,  394. 
of  oblation  to  be  made 
before  a representa- 
tion of,  382. 

of  reparation  to,  for  the 
First  Friday,  393. 
beads  of,  466. 
hymn  to,  453. 
indulgenced  chaplet  of, 
396. 

indulgenced  ejaculations 
to,  245,  276,  284,  287, 
289,  293,  297,  301, 

303,  312,  318,  333, 

337.366.368.371.379, 
380,  381,  385,  391, 
431,  446,  467. 

indulgenced  prayer  to,  for 
the  Church  and  the 
Pope,  etc.,  371,  439- 
indulgenced  prayers  to, 
293,  297,  298,  318, 

333.370.371.379,  382, 
392,  396,  439,  482. 

litany  of,  482. 


Sacred  Heart,  the  ( Cont’d .) 

offering  to,  392. 

prayer  to  Jesus  in,  370. 

Sacrifice,  the  four  ends  of, 
method  of  adoration 
according  to,  348. 

Saints,  litany  of  the,  490. 

Salvation,  a prayer  for  all 
things  necessary  to, 
414. 

Salve  Regina , the,  275. 

Sequence  ( Lauda  Sion)y  362. 

Seven  corporal  works  of 
mercy,  308. 

deadly  sins,  the,  307. 

Gloria  Patris,  the  practice 
of,  285. 

offerings  of  the  Precious 
Blood,  404. 

spiritual  works  of  mercy, 
308. 

Sign  of  the  Cross,  the,  245, 
246,  248,  281,  302. 

Sin,  nine  ways  of  being  acces- 
sory to  another’s,  307. 

“ Sing,  my  tongue  ” (hymn), 
356. 

Sinners,  prayer  for  the  con- 
version of,  294. 

Sins : 

the  four  which  cry  to 
Heaven  for  vengeance, 
307- 

the  seven  deadly,  and  their 
opposite  virtues,  307. 

Sorrows,  prayer  to  Our  Lady 
of,  428. 

“ Soul  of  Christ  ” (prayer), 
301,  317,  332,  370. 

Sovereign  Pontiff,  prayer  for 
the,  445. 

Spiritual  communion,  act  of, 
by  St.  Alphonsus  Li- 
guori,  300,  368. 

Stations  of  the  Cross,  469. 

Steps  of  the  Passion,  451. 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX 


Suffering  of  Jesus,  the  prayer 
in  honor  of,  399. 

“ Suscipe , Domine  "(prayer), 
290,  3i7,  369- 

T 

Tabernacle,  moments  before 
the,  341. 

Tabernacle  Society,  act  of 
reparation  for  mem- 
bers of,  389. 

“ Take,  O Lord  ” (prayer), 
290,  3i7,  369- 

“ Tantum  Ergo  ” (hymn), 
357,  387,  499- 

“ Te  Deum  Laudamus  ” 
(hymn),  501. 

Ten  Commandments,  the, 
306. 

Thanksgiving : 
act  of,  329. 

after  communion,  312. 
and  adoration,  385. 
and  petition,  334. 
during  hour  of  adoration, 
349- 

Thomas  Aquinas,  St.,  prayer 
of,  after  communion, 
330. 

Thoughts  and  affections  on 
the  Passion  of  Our 
Lord,  448. 


517 

Thursdays,  indulgences  to  be 
obtained  on,  364. 
Trinity,  the  Holy,  prayers  to, 
283,  292. 


U 

Universal  prayer,  a,  414. 


V 

Versicles  and  responses  for 
the  dead,  297,  417. 

“ Veniy  Sancte  SpirituSy ” 
289. 

Visits  to  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment, 341,  364. 
prayer  of  St.  Alphonsus  for, 

365. 

W 

Way  of  the  Cross,  469. 

“ We  praise  Thee  ” (hymn), 
501. 

Will  of  God,  indulgenced 
ejaculation  to  the,  400. 
Works  of  mercy : 

the  seven  corporal,  308. 
the  seven  spiritual,  308. 


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